Wright Electric
| Company type | Private startup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Electric aviation |
| Founded | 2016 in Los Angeles, United States |
| Founder | Team of ten founders |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Short-haul electric aircraft market |
| Products | Electric airplanes (prototypes and designs for short-haul flights) |
Wright Electric is a U.S.-based startup focused on creating an electric airplane intended for routes shorter than 300 miles. The plane incorporates wings with a high aspect ratio to enhance energy efficiency, utilizes distributed electric propulsion, and features interchangeable battery packs utilizing cutting-edge cell chemistry.
Design
Designed for short-distance flights, this electric airliner prioritizes efficiency through advanced battery innovations and propulsion technologies.
History
Established in 2016 by a team of ten in Los Angeles, Wright Electric attracted venture funding including backing from the Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator. The company, named in honor of the Wright brothers, aims to revolutionize regional aviation by introducing electric-powered aircraft.
In September 2017, Wright Electric formed a partnership with UK low-cost airline EasyJet to develop a 180-seat electric airliner with a target service entry date of 2027. Wright developed a two-seat prototype powered by 272 kilograms of batteries and plans to advance battery chemistry to enable a range of 291 nautical miles, sufficient to serve approximately 20% of EasyJet’s passenger volume. The company intends to progress from a 10-passenger model to a single-aisle aircraft accommodating at least 120 seats, seeking to achieve a 50% reduction in noise and decrease operating expenses by 10%.
Wright built two test rigs for evaluating electric propulsion systems: one featuring twin 250 kW motors and propellers co-developed with Yates Electrospace, and a second mobile platform designed for high-altitude testing.
In May 2018, Jetex, a fixed-base operator based in Dubai, invested in Wright Electric to aid its expansion and infrastructure development.
By late 2018, Wright was conducting tests on commercially available electric motors and planned to integrate these with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop installed on an existing nine-seat aircraft for flight trials scheduled in 2019. Collaborations include working with Madrid’s Axter Aerospace, which operates hybrid-electric two-seater planes, and designer Darold Cummings, who adapted concepts for a 186-seat airliner capable of flying 500 km for EasyJet using Wright’s proprietary motor technology.
By November 2019, flight testing of the nine-seat prototype was imminent while EasyJet simultaneously partnered with Airbus to explore short-haul electric aircraft solutions.
In January 2020, Wright announced it was developing a 1.5 MW electric motor alongside 3 kV inverters to power the Wright 1—a 186-seat plane designed for at least a 300 nautical mile range and targeted for entry into service by 2030. Ground tests were planned for 2021 with flight tests anticipated in 2023.
The company received the Sustainability Award 2020 from World Finance, recognizing it as the most sustainable aerospace manufacturer worldwide.
In September 2021, Wright commenced testing of a 2 MW motor intended for the Wright 1 airliner’s extended range capability of 800 nautical miles, collaborating with EasyJet and Viva Aerobus. Later that year in November, Wright unveiled plans for an all-electric variant of the BAe 146 regional jet aiming for its maiden flight in 2024 and commercial introduction by 2026. This aircraft replaces four turbofan engines with electric motors powered either by aluminum-air batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, delivering an endurance of approximately one hour.