Bye Aerospace has announced an eight-seat all-electric twin turboprop class aircraft, the eFlyer 800, in response to growing demands for regional all-electric vehicles with significantly reduced operating costs, plus increased capacity and utility.

Performance estimates for the eFlyer 800 include an up to 320 kts cruise speed, 35,000 ft ceiling and 500 nm range with 45-minute IFR reserves at normal cruise speed of 280 kts. Safety features include two wing-mounted electric motors, each with dual redundant motor windings, quad-redundant battery packs and a full parachute. Additional potential features include an emergency auto-landing system, intelligent algorithm ensuring envelope protection, terrain avoidance and routing for emergency auto land, and also an option for supplemental power solar cells and in-wheel electric taxi. The aircraft's eight-seat configuration consists of up to seven passengers and one or two pilots. The eFlyer 800 will have only one-fifth the operating costs of traditional twin turboprops and is geared for the air taxi, air cargo, regional and charter aircraft markets.

“The eFlyer 800 is the first all-electric propulsion technology aircraft that achieves twin turboprop performance and safety with no CO2 and extremely low operating costs,” says CEO George E. Bye. “This type of remarkable economy and performance is made possible by the electric propulsion system and advanced battery cell technology that results in significantly higher energy densities.”

Bye Aerospace and Safran are currently assessing the most efficient electric powertrain for the eFlyer 800, the dual ENGINeUS electric motors and GENeUSGRID electric distribution and network protection system. “Safran product lines with the ENGINeUS™ motors, rated from 50kW to 500kW/1MW, and GENeUSGRID systems perfectly fit with the Bye Aerospace portfolio of e-aircraft,” states Hervé Blanc, executive VP and GM power with Safran Electrical & Power. “Building upon our successful cooperation on the eFlyer2 and eFlyer4, we are very proud to bring our best expertise to support Bye Aerospace in the design of the new eFlyer 800.”

Bye says eFlyer 800 customer deposit agreements are complete, and several are being developed with US and European air taxi, air cargo and air charter services. “Details about those agreements will be announced soon, and as they are finalised,” he adds.

Bye Aerospace is in the process of obtaining FAA Part 23 certification for its eFlyer 2 for the professional flight training mission and the four-seat eFlyer 4 for air taxi, cargo and advanced training uses. All the company's current and future families of aircraft feature engineering, research and electric aircraft solutions designed to specifically address compelling market needs. Benefits include fivefold lower operating costs, no CO2 emissions and decreased noise. Bye Aerospace estimates the eFlyer will eventually eliminate the release of millions of metric tons of CO2 each year as its deliveries begin and the general aviation fleet is replaced.