European aircraft developer Maeve Aerospace has unveiled an 80-seat hybrid airliner that it says will have the performance of a jet but the efficiency of a turboprop.
The airliner, known as the M80, is a clean sheet design aircraft and will have a range of 800nm while having a 40% reduction in energy consumption.
Maeve claims that its hybrid electric propulsion system will offer a fuel consumption of 2 liters per passenger per 100km while cruising at 400 knots (ktas). This will result in a 25% reduction in total voyage cost and a 20% reduction in seat per mile cost compared to similarly sized turboprops.
Martin Nuesseler, CTO of Maeve Aerospace: “To my knowledge, there are no alternatives currently in development that are as sustainable, cost effective and meet the operational needs of airlines and airports. If there are, I would welcome them because we need more of these realistic solutions to become sustainable.
In addition to being able to run on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), the M80 will be fully certified to run on 100% hydrogen-based power-to-liquid fuels, meaning it can potentially eliminate more than 95% of CO2 emissions.
The ultimate goal for Maeve is to decarbonize air travel, which the industry has set a target of net-zero by 2050.
Maeve Aerospace aims to have the M80 in service by 2031. A date based on the experience and lessons learned from several aircraft programs and their industrial ramp-up.
The unveiling of the M80 plans comes as Maeve Aerospace expands into a new innovation hub at Munich’s Oberpfaffenhofen airport.
