Aircraft
Evio Taps Molicel for Hybrid-electric Airliner Battery Work
Molicel to develop lithium-ion battery cells for the Evio 810
Molicel president Casey Shiue, left, and Evio vice president of operations and general manager Valerie Myers shake hands following the signing of a development agreement on April 29.
Molicel president Casey Shiue, left, and Evio vice president of operations and general manager Valerie Myers shake hands following the signing of a development agreement on April 29.

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.