United Expands Battery Portfolio: Invests in EPS
United Airlines
United Airlines has made an exciting new investment in Electric Power Systems (EPS), a company specialising in battery technology that holds immense potential for various aerospace applications.
Unlike traditional battery cell production, EPS focuses on creating compatible module technology, offering adaptability to support a wide range of batteries, optimising performance, and ensuring safety.
The remarkable versatility of this technology opens up numerous possibilities for United, with both short-term applications and long-term strategies to support its decarbonisation efforts. This investment marks United's second foray into electric battery technology, following their earlier partnership with sodium-ion battery maker Natron.
Speaking about the investment, Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures, emphasised the groundbreaking scope of EPS's technology and its contribution to their sustainability goals.
By incorporating EPS's electric aircraft powertrain solutions, including high-performance power electronics and energy storage systems, United aims to forge a path towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050 without relying solely on traditional carbon offsets.
The ultimate vision of Electric Power Systems is to create a comprehensive battery "ecosystem" tailored to aviation needs, encompassing onboard aircraft battery packs to ground charging stations.
A key focus is to maintain affordability while ensuring rapid charging and minimal battery degradation. Central to the success of electric aviation is the development of lightweight, high-energy storage batteries, as excessive weight would render electric aircraft economically unviable when compared to conventional fossil fuel-powered planes.
Nathan Millecam, CEO of Electric Power Systems, expressed excitement about the collaboration with United Airlines Ventures and how this investment will accelerate the advancement of electric aviation technology. The joint effort aims to revolutionise air travel, ushering in a more sustainable future for the industry.
United Airlines is actively exploring opportunities to transition its pilot training academy, Aviate®, from internal combustion-powered training aircraft to electric counterparts. EPS's innovative powertrain technology presents a promising option for the core propulsion system in various electric aircraft concepts. The collaboration may begin with electric trainers and expand to larger variants as technology progresses.
Moreover, United operates more than 12,000 motorised ground equipment pieces, with roughly one-third currently electric. The potential deployment of EPS's battery modules offers support for multiple purposes, including charging electric ground equipment, facilitating the charging needs of future electric aircraft like air taxis, enabling electrified auxiliary power unit (APU) start products, and even catering to electrified cold-chain storage solutions for cargo containers.
United Airlines' investment in Electric Power Systems signifies a major stride towards sustainable aviation and underscores the critical role that cutting-edge battery technology plays in decarbonising the aerospace industry. With EPS's game-changing solutions and United's commitment to pushing the boundaries of electric aviation, the future of air travel promises to be more eco-friendly and efficient than ever before.
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Source: PRNewswire
