EasyJet wants electrically in London

Amsterdam-London is an ideal route for the first fully electric flights. From 2030, the average electric aircraft (about 180 seats) will provide commercial flights between the two cities.

Johan Lundgren, president of British budget company easyJet, believes in electric flight. According to him, it is the only adequate response on the other side of aviation: CO emissions _[ and noise pollution. At Schiphol, Lundgren told the press about his electric ambitions on Monday. He was assisted by Jeffrey Engler, the young boss of the Wright Electric startup two years ago. The California company is developing an engine tailored to the size of an A320, the aircraft that easyJet uses makes much of it

. EasyJet provides 22 of the 60 daily flights between Amsterdam and London. The distance, the frequency, the occupancy rate and the fact that many passengers book a round trip to the day make this route an ideal choice for an electric shovel, according to Lundgren. The Eurostar competition, the train that opens a third daily service in the spring, is not afraid of it. "There are enough customers for different types of transport.In five years we will still have 22 flights a day."

The electric flight, whether it is complete or hybrid, is one of the options with which the aviation sector hopes to continue to grow. In particular, the strong growth expected in Asia over the next 30 years makes necessary measures against the weather damage caused by aviation. Flying (or rolling in airports) on sustainable electricity helps reduce harmful emissions. The degree of noise reduction is uncertain.

According to consulting firm Roland Berger, the number of electric flight projects is increasing rapidly: from 48 in 2016 to 130 this year. Only a few of them are big planes, 90% are urban taxis and small planes. Europe and the United States are on the same track, China hardly participates. Airbus is developing a larger aircraft with Siemens and engine manufacturer Rolls Royce. Boeing collaborates with start-up Zunum Aero. Norway shows the way: from 2040, all domestic flights in this country must be electric.

To read also: The Great Polluter: How Aviation Want to Continue to Grow

Heavy Battery

Outside EasyJet and Wright Electric Rare are the ones that 2030 are achievable for a larger aircraft, given the technological hurdles to overcome. Why this optimism? Lundgren: "You can not achieve anything without goals The expectations of technical innovation are too conservative because we start from what we know."

Engler easily passes the biggest hurdle, the enormous weight of the batteries that have to endure electric planes (and that does not decrease during kerosene). Engler: "The weight is noticeable with short flights.The battery manufacturers are working hard to get a higher energy density." Today, it is possible to store about 50 times more energy. energy in kilos of kerosene than in a battery. "

Now they have a double plane with an electric motor, next year a nine-person plane with a four-fold more powerful engine. will be about 50 seats, 180 seats for 2030 and a distance of 500 kilometers.

In addition to new technologies, easyJet also requires a new policy, airports must attract cleaner and quieter aircraft and old planes are blocked by Lower and higher tariffs Governments must refrain from imposing taxes whose name is "green."

In September, Lundgren met with Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen ( Infrastructure, VVD ) about the flight tax that the Netherlands plans to introduce in 2021. "I told him that such a tax would hurt the local economy. This is not a good tool to limit the disadvantages of aviation. And if you introduce a flight tax, create a stimulus that encourages sustainability. "