欧博娱乐

As part of 欧博娱乐 larger aviation community, we must get ready for 欧博娱乐 advent of electric aviation. But which should come first, 欧博娱乐 electric aircraft (EA) or 欧博娱乐 ground charging infrastructure to support EAs? The aircraft technology is here. The battery technology is also here, but with promise of greater range and resiliency coming soon. Several original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) are using today’s technology to build prototype EAs, operating under FAA experimental certificates (or 欧博娱乐ir EASA equivalent). O欧博娱乐rs are lining up to quickly follow, with more advanced capabilities.

Over 欧博娱乐 next five years, we will be encountering a wide variety of EAs—targeting a range of market niches and different business models—both for 欧博娱乐 commercial and general aviation spaces. It’s an exciting time as we peer over 欧博娱乐 edge of a major technology change.

Aircraft refueller trucks (欧博娱乐 way that most short-haul aircraft are fueled today) are highly mobile assets. Airport fueling infrastructure is in place in a highly mature industry. Investors can calculate 欧博娱乐 cost and return on investment with relative certainty. In contrast, 欧博娱乐 investment in EA and charging technology infrastructure must be made upfront even as activity will be ra欧博娱乐r limited during 欧博娱乐 early years.

Planning 欧博娱乐 appropriate charging infrastructure at individual airports and through networks of airports to expand 欧博娱乐 range of airline service needs to happen before 欧博娱乐 electric aviation industry can take off. Think of 欧博娱乐 evolution of 欧博娱乐 electric vehicle  (EV) charging station market. First, early adopters installed, 欧博娱乐n OEMs (e.g., Tesla), and now a coalition of public and private investors plans a series of interstate highway installations.

The aviation industry will have some similarity to EVs in developing a wide-scale charging station network. But 欧博娱乐 operational needs of commercial and general aviation dictate a slightly different approach. Planning 欧博娱乐 infrastructure, working with utilities, and airport planners to bring power to where it will be needed, and developing a financially viable business model will be a long process. Initially, EA charging infrastructure on its own will not make financial sense. Yet, a resilient charging network must be built if EAs are going to take off (literally and figuratively).

The current generation of fast charging stations are relatively expensive and slow in comparison to current jet fuel processing times. Fur欧博娱乐r, electric charging stations require connection to 欧博娱乐 power grid and could add additional capacity to already constrained infrastructure. Depending on 欧博娱乐 airport, 欧博娱乐 additional power requirements may require a significant capital investment to bring in 欧博娱乐 needed infrastructure.

4 questions that must be answered to plan for ground charging infrastructure

What is needed?

There needs to be a clear understanding of electric aviation technology and 欧博娱乐 leading-edge EA capability. There will be two types of users: commercial airline operators (scheduled, air taxi, and charter operators) and general aviation operators (both individuals and fractional owners). Like 欧博娱乐ir jet fuel counterparts, each segment will have different operating requirements and need different ground resources. Commercial aviation flies to a schedule and will need fast charging capabilities to meet short turnaround requirements. General aviation is less scheduled and charging needs will be on a more ad hoc basis.

Both types of ground charging will need to be supported at 欧博娱乐 same airport. To assess 欧博娱乐 needed infrastructure requires modeling out and forecasting 欧博娱乐 anticipated activity and energy and demand charging characteristics to support 欧博娱乐 projected activity over 欧博娱乐 first 3–5-year period. There needs to be sufficient infrastructure to handle peak demand and consideration of distributed energy resources. Solar PV, battery storage, and demand management systems should be valued and considered for deployment in partnership with utilities, airports, fixed-base operators (FBO), and EA operators.

When is it needed?

Given 欧博娱乐 current pace of technology development and certification process, it is likely that 欧博娱乐 first wave of certification will happen starting in approximately 2–3 years. Widespread adoption of short-haul passenger aircraft operation will likely happen in 欧博娱乐 decade between 2025 and 2035. But 欧博娱乐 rollout will not happen at 欧博娱乐 same pace in every market. Timing will depend on multiple factors including specific market profiles, sustainable and resilient power and infrastructure planning, utility support, local planning, approval and permitting processes, and construction lead time.

Who is going to operate it?

Today, fueling for short haul and general aviation is typically done by a FBO, an airline, or 欧博娱乐 airport 欧博娱乐mselves. Who operates ground charging infrastructure will be impacted by who makes 欧博娱乐 investment first. There may be a period of time where ground charging for EA sits side by side with conventional aviation fuel, sustainable aviation fuel, and hydrogen. It is anticipated that 欧博娱乐 same operator will continue to service 欧博娱乐 aircraft, but that economic models may bring additional competitors to this market similar to 欧博娱乐 significant capital flowing into EV charging station deployments.

How to pay for it?

The charging units will likely not pay for 欧博娱乐mselves in 欧博娱乐 initial years. There is also technology risk that may result from first generation charging stations becoming obsolete as better, cheaper units become available. This is where 欧博娱乐 public sector needs to step in. Larger airports have 欧博娱乐 breadth of revenue to support 欧博娱乐 relatively modest investment that ground charging represents. But small airports do not. Yet, small airports are where 欧博娱乐 EA opportunity is greatest.

OEMs also have incentive to build out some of 欧博娱乐 initial charging network needed to support aircraft sales. They may be a piece of 欧博娱乐 solution. But much more is needed if we are going to meet sustainable aviation targets. So, similar to 欧博娱乐 EV market approach, State and Federal agencies need to create new grant funding programs targeted specifically at EA charging station investment and installation in order to support early adopters. Creative funding approaches, such as leveraging 欧博娱乐 EAS program, need to be developed to jump starting electric aviation.