.jpg "The ES-30 is a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a standard seating capacity of 30 passengers, which promises to deliver unparalleled sustainability and efficiency on short-haul routes. Image Heart Aerospace")
Built almost entirely in-house at Heart's Gothenburg facilities, the demonstrator reflects the company's strategy to simultaneously develop both the design and production processes.
"Our industry is approaching a 30-year innovation cycle, and we have less than 25 years to decarbonize aviation. We need to develop new methods to get net zero aerospace technologies to market faster," says Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. "It is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our team that we're able to roll out a 30-seat aircraft demonstrator with a brand-new propulsion system, largely inhouse, in less than two years. "
With a commanding 32-meter wingspan, the demonstrator, named Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), will serve as a platform for rigorous testing and development of Heart's ES-30 aircraft.
Initially, the HX-1 will be used for ground-based testing, focusing on charging operations, taxiing, and turnaround procedures. It is scheduled to undertake a fully electric first flight in the second quarter of 2025. In preparation for this flight, Heart will over the coming months, test critical systems by running hardware tests both on and off the aircraft.
Development of the Heart X1 has been funded in part by grants provided by the Swedish Innovation Agency, Vinnova, highlighting the essential collaboration between government and industry that is needed to bring new aviation technologies to market.
Building on the experience of developing the Heart X1, Heart is now focused on creating a state-of-the-art aircraft manufacturing process that leans into the latest technologies in composite manufacturing and product lifecycle management, building a data-driven assembly line with high repeatability, automation and non-destructive inspection.
Heart's next step in developing the ES-30 is the building of a pre-production prototype, the Heart X2, which will further mature the design and production methods based on lessons learned from the Heart X1.
This momentum will continue with the establishment of a pilot manufacturing plant to accelerate prototyping toward the manufacturing of a fully conforming aircraft, with Heart targeting type certification of the ES-30 by the end of the decade.
The ES-30 is a regional hybrid-electric aeroplane with a standard seating capacity of 30 passengers, which promises to deliver unparalleled sustainability and efficiency on short-haul routes. With an electric zero-emission range of 200 kilometres and an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometres.
Ground tests
Heart Aerospace, in collaboration with airlines Braathens Regional Airlines, SAS, and airport operator Swedavia completes ground support procedure tests for electric airplane in a push to bring more eco-friendly air travel closer to reality.
“Commercial customers are eager to reduce operational costs and decarbonize their fleets, but they face a set of complex challenges, such as which plug standard to install and how to bring megawatts of power to remote facilities. We are working closely with industry advisors through the ELISE project to ensure we meet these specific needs. By collaborating with experts, we aim to create an infrastructure tailored for electric aircraft and the airport,” says Simon Reinberth, Airport Infrastructure Manager at Heart Aerospace.
AirAsia joins advisory board
Malaysia-based AirAsia, the fourth largest airline in Asia, has joined Heart Aerospace’s Industry Advisory Board to help shape the future of regional electric aviation. As a member of the board, AirAsia will provide strategic guidance and oversight on the design, development, and commercialisation of Heart Aerospace’s revolutionary hybrid-electric aircraft, the ES-30.
The Industry Advisory Board consists of leading airlines, leasing companies, and airports worldwide—each representing critical components of the aviation ecosystem necessary to support the transformative shift toward electric air travel.
AirAsia, known for democratising air travel in Southeast Asia, operates across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, China, India, Australia and beyond. With a mission to serve underserved communities, the airline has been a key player in making air travel more accessible across the region. With innovation, value and choice underpinning the brand, the airline is well-placed to provide industry-leading guidance on the new era of electric air travel.
Furthermore, sustainability is a key focus for AirAsia. As part of its long-term goals, AirAsia aims to cut its net CO2 emissions to 50% of 2005 levels by 2050.
Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a regional electric aircraft designed to accommodate 30 passengers. It will feature an electric, zero-emissions range of 200 kilometres, a hybrid-electric range of 400 kilometres with 30 passengers, and an extended range of up to 800 kilometres with 25 passengers, all while exceeding standard airline fuel reserve requirements.
To date, Heart Aerospace has secured 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 planes, as well as letters of intent for 191 more aircraft.
