Researchers advocate for EU mandate on electric aviation

Researchers are calling for the European Union to mandate that aircraft manufacturers transition to electric propulsion, similar to the requirements imposed on the automotive industry. Maarten Steinbuch, a professor of mechanical engineering in Eindhoven, suggests that electric flight could be a reality in Europe within ten years.

Currently, the Netherlands is a leader in this development, with Elysian Aircraft working on one of the world’s first battery-powered passenger planes. The project, involving Swedish co-founder Daniel Jacobson, aims to transport 90 passengers over distances of 800 to 1,000 kilometers. Such technology could potentially eliminate emissions for half of the world's flights and reduce total aviation sector emissions by 20 percent.

While the EU Commission currently focuses on making existing aviation more sustainable, experts argue that more attention must be directed toward a full electrification revolution to combat the aviation industry's contribution to global warming.