Ownership costs for VoltAero's hybrid-electric Cassio will be significantly lower than traditional competitors in its category, with the level of savings tied to the way this modular, flexible aircraft is operated.

This was one of the key messages from VoltAero's CEO and Chief Technology Officer Jean Botti, who shared the company's experiences at the 2021 Electric & Hybrid Aerospace Technology Symposium – a virtual gathering held April 20-21 for high-level discussions about important industry developments.

"The cost of ownership savings can range from 17% to 35%," explained Botti during the Day 2 discussion panel titled Developments in Hybrid & Electric Propulsion. "We have seen that in full hybrid mode – for example, when flying a leg of three-plus hours – owners will save around 17% in direct costs; and if they are in full electric mode, this goes up to 35%."

With VoltAero's patented parallel hybrid propulsion power module, Cassio aircraft will be able to operate in modes from full electric to full hybrid – depending on the customer mission profile and range requirement.

Demonstrated capabilities

Botti added that the projected savings have been validated by evaluations with the company's Cassio 1 demonstrator, which made its maiden flight equipped with VoltAero's proprietary power module in October 2020.

The power module was installed in an aft-fuselage "pusher" position for the milestone voyage, and combined three 60 kW high-performance electric motors (arranged in a triangular "barrel" configuration), with a 370-hp. internal combustion engine.

This configuration of the power module prefigures the full-up powertrain for VoltAero's largest production Cassio aircraft version – the 10-seat Cassio 600 – which is to deliver a total hybrid-electric power of 600 kW (800 hp.), enabling the 200-kt. cruise (360 km./hr.)