VoltAero is offering a new version of the hybrid-electric powertrain it is developing for its Cassio family of regional airliners that could be used for homebuilt and kit-built light aircraft. The HPU 210 was unveiled on June 5 at the France Air Expo show at Lyon–Bron Airport.
The powertrain combines a 60-kilowatt electric motor plus a battery with a Kawasaki H2SX thermal engine that provides maximum power of 150 kilowatts. According to the French start-up, in typical operations, the engine delivers baseline propulsive power from zero to 70%, while the motor kicks in when an aircraft demands higher levels of power to support shorter takeoff distances, obstacle clearance, and increased cruise speeds.
The H2SX is based on the engine Kawasaki developed for its Ninja H2 SX sports motorcycle and will be delivered by VoltAero as a kit that also includes a gearbox and electronic control unit. With an electronic fuel injection system, it has an estimated time between overhauls of 1,500 hours.
Avgas, Biofuel, or Unleaded
A single throttle controls the HPU 210, which can run on avgas, biofuel, or standard automotive unleaded gas. According to the company, fuel consumption can be as low as 38 liters (10 gallons) per hour at cruise settings.
“With the HPU 210, a new category of airplanes will benefit from the patented, proven hybrid propulsion technology pioneered by VoltAero for our Cassio family of regional aircraft, which are now advancing into their pre-production phase,” said Jean Botti, VoltAero’s CEO and CTO. “We’ve validated our hybrid propulsion architecture on our in-house Cassio S flying testbed, which has logged more than 185 flight hours and flown approximately 25,000 kilometers in a full range of operating conditions.”
VoltAero will produce the HPU 210 at its new factory at Rochefort Airport in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwest France. It aims to start making deliveries in late 2026.