Dutch Startup To Transform Air Travel with 80-Seater Hybrid-Electric Plane
Maeve Aerospace, an aircraft startup backed by the Dutch government, is developing an 80-seater hybrid-electric plane as part of broader efforts within the aviation sector to reduce carbon emissions.1
The aircraft, originally launched in 2022 as the Echelon 01 and later rebranded as the Maeve 01, has undergone several redesigns. The latest adjustments include an oval-shaped body, shorter wings and the replacement of four electric motors with two hybrid-electric engines.
According to the company, the M80 aircraft will have an expected range of 1,482 kilometers and a 40% reduction in fuel burn compared to similarly sized regional jets. While the original timeline for the Maeve 01 was to fly in 2028 and obtain certification by 2030, the changes have extended the concept phase to mid-2026, with type approval and customer deliveries now slated for 2031.2
The maximum take-off weight is now set at 28.9 tons, with a maximum payload of 8.5 tons. The company aims to replace Bombardier CRJ-series jets or the De Havilland Canada Dash 8 twin-turboprop with the M80, targeting jet performance to attract interest from operators.
Alongside the aircraft design changes, Maeve is expanding its footprint by opening a new German engineering office near Munich in 2023. The location of the M80's final assembly line is yet to be decided.
As airlines and aircraft manufacturers face increasing pressure to adopt decarbonization measures, Europe is experimenting with new aviation technologies, driven by the European Union's commitment to achieving climate neutrality in the bloc's economy by 2050.
Footnotes:
[1] https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/aircraft-startup-to-develop-hybrid-electric-plane-1.2010034
