Australian company awarded $3 million grant to fast-track electric planes

Dovetail Electric Aviation is to receive a $3 million government grant as part of a $12.8 million project to fast-track the development of electric planes for regional routes.

The grant to Dovetail, which also operates Sydney Seaplanes, was one of 19 recipients who will receive a share of $44 million as part of the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) program.

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic made the announcement on Thursday at Dovetail’s Facility at Bankstown, Sydney.

“Electric aviation has the potential to be a game-changer for regional transport as Australia pushes to meet our emissions targets,” Minister Husic said.

Technology shift will begin with conversions

Dovetail will receive a $3 million grant to develop, test and certify the conversion of turbine-powered planes into fully electrically powered aircraft.

The company says it will use the electric aircraft for short flights with an eye to develop emissions-free aircraft for use on regional routes in the future.

The company aims to usher in a new era of zero emissions aviation. It claims that flights less than 500km can be made with electric aircraft and that the electrification of aviation has the potential to abate more than 50 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

Rachael Barritt, business operations executive, Asia Pacific at Dovetail Electric Aviation said: “Being at the forefront of this transformative technology in Australia is a privilege. We are thrilled to be a part of this historic moment for the Australian aviation industry.”

Dovetail in partnership with Rex Airlines

In July last year Regional Express, part of the Rex Airlines group formed a strategic partnership with Dovetail to convert part of is fleet of 61 Saab 340 aircraft from turbine power to electric.

Rex will provided an aircraft to be used as a test bed for the project as well as engineering expertise.

Part of Dovetail’s statement today claims that Rex Airlines believes the conversion of small aircraft to nil-emissions electric propulsion will reduce operating costs by 40 per cent, make regional travel more affordable and open new regional routes which were not previously economically viable.