Diamond Aircraft’s eDA40 is an All-Electric Aircraft That Can be Fast-Charged Like a Tesla
Electric Aircrafts will soon become like a Tesla electric vehicle, able to plug in and fast-charge and the Diamond Aircraft eDA40 is leading the way. After years of experimentation and testing hybrid and pure electric systems, the company is unveiling its first electric version of the DA40 single-engine trainer aircraft that is already certified.
Image Courtesy: Diamond Aircraft
The electric eDA40 plugs into a DC fast-charging system supplied by Electric Power Systems, a company that develops certified systems for Automotive, Aerospace, Defense and Marine applications. According to Diamond Aircraft, the eDA40 is the first electric plane that is part 23 certified by the FAA and EASA with electric charging.
Image Courtesy: Diamond Aircraft
The final version of the eDA40, according to Diamond, would recharge in around 20 minutes and provide 90 minutes of flying time powered by an air-cooled Safran Engineus 100 electric motor with an integrated controller that generates a maximum of 130 kW.
Image Courtesy: Diamond Aircraft
The eDA40 will be able to seat up to four passengers with electrically adjustable rudder pedals and air conditioning which is not bad for a trainer aircraft of this size. The all-glass flight deck features Garmin G1000 NXi flight systems with an optional GFC700 automated flight control system. Flight testing of the eDA40 will start in the second half of 2022 with certification expected as early as 2024.
