Embraer S.A., São José dos Campos, State of São Paulo, Brazil, is partnering with EDP Brasil S.A., to advance aviation energy storage and battery charging with an all-electric prototype aircraft, the EMB-203 Ipanema, set to take flight in 2021 using EDP’s energy storage and battery charging technologies.
The partnership will look at how high voltage batteries can be used in electric propulsion systems for small aircraft. They will also research weight, efficiency and power quality, thermal control and management, cycling loading and unloading, and operational safety.
“EDP aims to lead the energy transition to a low carbon economy,” Miguel Setas, president of EDP in Brazil, said in a press statement. “Our partnership with Embraer in the development of the company’s first 100% electric demonstrator aircraft represents a new frontier for our investment in electric mobility, which helps to position Brazil as a leading player in this market.”
Embraer initially partnered with WEG Industries in May of 2019 with a proposal for the development of this technology, according to the press release. In August of 2019 Embraer unveiled the EMB-203 Ipanema which used WEG’s electric motor and controller. The project was then developed with the goal of maturing electric and energy storing technologies for future uses. EDP has pledged to electrify its whole fleet by 2030 and develop new commercial solutions to promote energy transition.
“EDP aims to lead the energy transition to a low carbon economy,” Miguel Setas, said in a press statement. “Our partnership with Embraer in the development of the company’s first 100% electric demonstrator aircraft represents a new frontier for our investment in electric mobility, which helps to position Brazil as a leading player in this market.”
The testing has been done at Embraer’s facilities in Botucau, which is in São Paulo, but the first flight will be at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto unit.
The U.S. subsidiary of Embraer, EmbraerX, partnered with Elroy Air in January to certify a hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for unmanned cargo delivery.
About Embraer
A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security, and Agricultural aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers around the globe. Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year. Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.
About EDP in Brazil
With over 20 years of experience, EDP is one of the largest private companies in the energy sector. The Company, which has more than 10,000 direct and contracted employees, operates six hydroelectric generation units and one thermoelectric generation unit, in addition to operations in Transmission, Commercialization, and Energy Services. In Distribution, it serves approximately 3.5 million customers in the states of São Paulo and Espírito Santo, in addition to being the main shareholder of Celesc, in Santa Catarina. In 2020, it was named the most innovative company in the energy sector by Valor Inovação, of the Valor Econômico newspaper, and is a reference in Governance and Sustainability, having been on the B3 Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) for 14 consecutive years.