Evio Taps Molicel for Hybrid-electric Airliner Battery Work

Evio has teamed with battery maker Molicel to develop lithium-ion cells for its planned 76-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner, the Evio 810. The development agreement announced on May 21 calls for cells designed to exceed the energy density of batteries currently used in commercial aerospace and to meet the performance, safety, and certification requirements of a Part 25 aircraft.

While Evio declined to specify a target energy density, a company spokesperson told AIN that the collaboration aims to push “beyond what is currently available in commercial aerospace battery solutions.” For context, MagniX launched a 400 Wh/kg iteration of its Samson battery line for electric aircraft last June, and Amprius Technologies launched a silicon-anode cell reaching 450 Wh/kg last May.

Molicel and Evio had already begun cell performance testing prior to signing a memorandum of agreement. They plan to collect battery system data in the second half of 2026 using flight profiles that match how the Evio 810 would operate on all-electric missions.

“This agreement gives us a structured path to generate the data we need to mature an aircraft-ready energy storage solution for the Evio 810,” Evio CEO Michael Derman said in a company statement.

Cylindrical Cells

Evio’s spokesperson told AIN that the 810's lithium-ion batteries will feature cylindrical cells, citing the format’s flexibility for packaging and its suitability for a distributed safety architecture. “By building around this widely adopted standard form factor, Evio also positions its aircraft to benefit directly from future battery advancements, enabling increased capability and the potential for long-term value appreciation as cell technology continues to improve,” the spokesperson said.

Battery performance is central to Evio’s business case. The Montreal-based start-up argues that its “strong hybrid” electric propulsion architecture—in which the aircraft operates primarily on battery power while four Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E turboprop engines provide range extension—delivers better economics than either a conventional turboprop or a mild hybrid design, Derman has said. The Evio 810 is designed to take off and land on electricity alone and is optimized for all-electric flights up to 500 nm, a figure Evio expects to grow as battery technology matures.

Molicel, a Taiwan-based battery maker with a 40-year history of producing high-power cells for applications ranging from power tools to NASA space exploration, received AS9100:D certification in December 2024—the aerospace industry’s quality management standard, which verifies that a manufacturer can consistently meet aerospace safety and performance requirements in mass production. Its cells already power eVTOL aircraft in development by Archer Aviation and Vertical Aerospace.

In February, Molicel signed a separate agreement with electric regional aircraft developer Vaeridion to supply cells for its nine-seat Microliner.

“Our high-power cell technology is specifically engineered to handle the intense discharge and recharge cycles required for hybrid-electric flight,” said Molicel president Casey Shiue.

Valerie Myers, Evio vice president of operations and general manager, said the agreement with Molicel marks significant progress in the company’s battery development. “The Molicel team understands the stringent requirements of aerospace from design through industrialization.”

Evio, which has financial and technical backing from Boeing and Pratt & Whitney Canada, plans to fly certification-ready test aircraft later this decade and bring the Evio 810 to market in the early 2030s. Two unidentified major airlines have signed conditional purchase agreements for a combined 250 aircraft, with options for 200 more.