Electric plane in China ready for world markets

China is set to put its first electric aircraft into mass production soon, and designers expect it to be successful in domestic markets as well as abroad.

Yang Fengtian, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said: “The RX1E is scheduled to receive its airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China before the end of this year, with production expected to start next year. This will be the first electric aircraft to be certified by our civil aviation authority. The success of the plane means China has become a technology leader in this filed.”

Yang was speaking at the 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

Yang is also president of Shenyang Aerospace University in Liaoning province and headed the development of the two-seater, light-duty aircraft.

The aircraft runs on electric motors, with electricity coming from fuel cells, solar cells, ultracapacitors, power beaming or batteries.

The first manned, electrically powered flight was made in 1973 and most of today’s electric aircraft are demonstration models.

 Yang said: “We plan to reach an annual production of 100 such aircraft within three years, and the construction of a manufacturing plant that can make 100 RX1Es each year has begun in Shenyang.”

The plane, together with a set of batteries, will sell for nearly 1 million yuan (US$163,000).

Yang predicts that the easy maintenance, low operating costs, high safety levels and eco-friendliness will mean the RX1E will sell well when it comes on the market and will serve a wide range of purposes, such as police patrols, flight training, entertainment and mapping surveys.

Yang said he expects that the Chinese market will need around 1,000 models to meet the demand from general aviation businesses.

With a takeoff weight of 480 kg and a cruise speed of up to 160 kilometers per hour, the RX1E can fly 90 minutes on fully charged batteries.

The plane will be able to carry loads for 230 km and fly at an altitude of close to 3,000 meters.

Song Mingkai, a RX1E designer, has estimated that each hour of flying time will only cost 20 yuan, including 5 yuan for battery charging.

Yang said: “In addition to the domestic market, it also has promising prospects in the European and United States markets, as many foreign enterprises have contacted us to express interest in it.”