VerdeGo Aero and Röder Präzision GmbH announced on June 14th that they have jointly introduced the SR-305-VDG aircraft engine, an engine optimized for hybrid-electric applications. The engine is designed to complement battery energy storage by converting liquid fuels (Jet-A, JP-8, SAF, e-fuels) into electricity, providing additional propulsive power for electric aircraft. This collaboration aims to enhance the performance of electric aircraft and promote more sustainable aviation practices.

The SR-305-VDG engine is the result of two years of testing and engineering development between VerdeGo Aero and Röder Präzision GmbH. Its key features include higher power output, reduced weight, and a smaller system volume, making it an ideal power source for a new generation of high-performance electric aircraft.

VerdeGo Aero’s VH-3 hybrid powerplant, equipped with the SR-305-VDG engine, will be showcased at AirVenture 2023, emphasizing its potential in supporting high-performance electric aircraft for various missions. The engine’s ability to use different types of liquid fuels enables aircraft to achieve higher energy densities, thereby extending their range and mission capabilities.

Eric Bartsch, CEO of VerdeGo Aero, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating that the partnership has enabled the delivery of a hybrid powerplant that meets the demands of electric aircraft manufacturers looking for more efficient and powerful solutions.

Jörg Erdmann, COO of Röder Präzision GmbH, expressed his excitement about the engine’s potential for hybrid-electric applications and how it could contribute to reducing carbon emissions in aviation through the use of sustainable aviation fuels.

Why it’s important: The introduction of the SR-305-VDG aircraft engine represents further progress by Verdego toward electrification and democratization of aviation. By offering a more efficient and sustainable power source, this collaboration has the potential to offer additional powerplant choices for aircraft configurators. As reported previously by TransportUP, this represents the company’s approach toward bridging the gap between the most advanced and efficient powerplant offerings of today and in the future.

VerdeGo Aero recently accepted delivery of concentrated sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Avfuel Technology to qualify the fuel for use in the VerdeGo’s VH-3-185 hybrid electric powerplant. 

The use of Avfuel’s concentrated SAF to power electric motors enables hybrid-electric aircraft to quickly achieve a 70 – 80% lifecycle reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional propulsion. According to VerdeGo, this configuration creates more efficient designs while also delivering significant increases in mission capabilities—the range of these aircraft can be increased six to 10 times in comparison to battery power. 

VerdeGo plans to provide leading electric aircraft manufacturers with a hybrid electric power solution that delivers high performance, low direct operating costs and low technology risk to bridge the gap between current technological maturity while also leveraging recent advances in battery technology. With hybrid power from VerdeGo Aero and SAF, VerdeGo claims that a 70-80% carbon reduction is feasible for all the most capable electric aircraft with the most demanding missions. 

Research is also underway on SAF options that have the potential to enable VerdeGo’s hybrid systems to operate on a carbon neutral basis – which would increase the pool of aircraft that can benefit from the combination of SAF and innovative propulsion systems.

Why it’s important: VerdeGo’s testing of SAF applicability to their VH-3-185 hybrid-electric powerplant is another step on their path toward a sustainable and efficient propulsion offering that takes advantage of current technological maturity within the aerospace industry. While other companies are attempting to rollout completely new technologies, VerdeGo is optimizing and hybridizing current offerable technologies, a combination of which (propulsion, and SAF) will substantially decrease emissions and increase efficiency for aerial mobility and short-haul regional aircraft of the future.

The $1.2 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract will provide funding for VerdeGo to perform advanced risk reduction on the VH-3-185 hybrid powerplant, which has applications to both military and commercial high-performance electric aircraft.

The contract has a period of performance of 14 months and was awarded under a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) focused on technologies that have both military and commercial applications. This contract along with a portfolio of other hybrid programs and a recent Series A financing round are leading to substantial growth in VerdeGo’s Daytona Beach, FL-based team of hybrid propulsion experts. 

VerdeGo Aero specializes in serial and parallel hybrid-electric propulsion and battery-electric aircraft systems. The company has completed hundreds of hours of full scale and full power durability and hybrid performance testing, and is working to develop, certify, manufacture, and service the next generation of propulsion units for electrified aviation.

The VH-3-185 is VerdeGo’s third generation of hybrid powerplant. Designed for use in electric aircraft, it features a certified aircraft diesel engine that burns either jet fuel or sustainable aviation fuel and converts that energy into electric power to drive arrays of electric motors, mechanical shaft horsepower to directly drive a propeller or a gearbox, or a blend of electric and mechanical output. 

“Many eVTOL aircraft developers are beginning to realize the limitations in range and endurance when relying upon batteries as the primary energy source,” said Dr. Pat Anderson, CTO of VerdeGo Aero. “In the military context, these limitations combined with the need for established charging infrastructure at every operating location make battery-only designs unsuitable for those missions. Hybrid powerplants, which do not have these limitations, are therefore an attractive solution for the military, and for that matter commercial operators, as well.” 

“The Agility Prime program has been exploring and evaluating hybrid propulsion architectures combined with EVTOLs for dual use applications where additional range over what current battery only solutions may offer is of higher importance. The program office is excited to continue those efforts and better understand what capabilities VerdeGo’s VH-3 Powerplant may offer future systems over the course of this Phase 2 effort,” said Sterling Alley, Agility Prime program manager and technology transition lead. 

The 185kW VH-3 is proving technologies that are also being applied to powerplants up to the 1MW+ power range. The similarities between military missions and high-performance commercial missions lead to a common need for large amounts of reliable onboard propulsion power for VTOL, STOL, and CTOL aircraft. 

Why it’s important: As stated by Dave Spitzer, VerdeGo’s VP of Product Development, “this Direct-to-Phase II effort is exciting because it’s going to accelerate our efforts to bring the VH-3 to market.” “The VH-3 will be a key enabler for bringing new capabilities to the warfighter, and we’re honored that the Air Force recognizes the potential in VerdeGo’s hybrid technologies.”

Source // VerdeGo Aero press release

VerdeGo Aero, one of the world’s only companies specializing in hybrid-electric aerospace propulsion systems, has announced a $12M Series A round led by RTX Ventures (Raytheon Technologies). The funds raised will go towards the acceleration of new hybrid-propulsion technologies.

Above: VerdeGo Aero’s VH-3 Hybrid Power plant

Founded in 2017 by the grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, VerdeGo is on the forefront of electric propulsion with high-efficiency flexible power plants that enable electrification to be applied to a broad array of aircraft types and mission requirements.

VerdeGo Aero was originally founded as a potential eVTOL aircraft developer, but pivoted its strategy in 2018 in to focus on providing hybrid propulsion solutions for electrically-powered aircraft such as eVTOLs, eSTOLs and more. Since adjusting its strategy, VerdeGo has gained a solid reputation in this field by forming partnerships with Airflow (now acquired by Electra.aero), Continental Aerospace, XTI Aircraft, and even Jaunt Air Mobility, which was formerly part of the Uber Elevate project. It also recently announced the development of its VH-3-185 hybrid power plant, which is 40% more efficient than comparable internal combustion plants, and could power all kinds of commercial-grade electric aircraft.

Now, VerdeGo has announced a successful Series A fundraising round of $12M, prominently backed by RTX Ventures of Raytheon Technologies, a highly experienced multinational company with several decades of experience in developing new technology products. In particular, VerdeGo will work with Pratt & Whitney, a famed subsidiary of Raytheon that has been making aircraft engines since as early as 1925, and provided engines for the United State’s f-35 fighter jets. Together, Pratt & Whitney and VerdeGo will collaborate by leveraging P&W’s capabilities including engine development, certification experience and global powerplant support.

Above: XTI Aircraft’s TriFan 200, an unmanned cargo eVTOL that will be powered by VerdeGo’s Hybrid-Electric propulsion system

Said Pat CTO and co-founder of VerdeGo Aero Dr Pat Anderson, ““Electrification of aircraft enables new aircraft designs and new mission types that are only possible by leveraging the responsiveness, light weight, and adaptability of electric motors. However, most commercial and military missions require performance and endurance that go far beyond the capabilities of battery technologies. VerdeGo’s hybrid systems create an efficient
method for combining sustainable liquid fuels and electrification to get the best of both worlds.”

Daniel Ateya, managing director of RTX Ventures, commented, “Delivering sustainable aviation technologies to help our customers bend the emissions curve remains one of Raytheon Technologies’ most important priorities. Our investment represents one of the ways we’re working to deliver a more sustainable future.”

Why it’s important: VerdeGo Aero, having already made immense progress in creating its own hybrid-propulsion system business, will now have access to Pratt & Whitney’s immense sum of aircraft powerplant system knowledge and expertise. By partnering with VerdeGo, Raytheon Technologies has furthered its effort to bring net-zero carbon emissions to the civil aviation industry by 2050. Together with the resources now being offered by P&W and Raytheon, VerdeGo’s hybrid systems will now likely be utilized in a large number of the hybrid-electric aircraft soon arriving on the market.

Source // VerdeGo Aero, Raytheon Technologies

Related:

• VerdeGo Aero Releases Hybrid Electric VH-3-185 Powerplant
• Jaunt Air Mobility and VerdeGo Aero Collaborate on Hybrid Electric Aircraft
• XTI Partners with VerdeGo Aero for Its Hybrid-Electric Cargo VTOL
• VerdeGo Aero Optimizes Hybrid Propulsion System for Commercial Aviation

VerdeGo Aero announced the specifications and design for its new hybrid-electric genset for electric aircraft last week, dubbed the VH-3-185.

The VH-3-185 is VerdeGo’s third generation hybrid-electric hardware, and is the first generation of hardware slated for use in air taxis and commercial grade electric aircraft. The VH-3 enables airframers to design electric aircraft that can very efficiently convert jet fuel to electrons, which allows for an increased number of use cases when entire mission energy requirements profiles are considered.

The VH-3-185 core hybrid unit is a tightly integrated powerplant that includes the engine, generator/motor, power electronics, and cooling systems. With 185kW of output and the ability to be installed alone, in pairs, and with a battery pack, this system can be configured to deliver peak burst power up to 1MW and
continuous power up to 370kW.

The VerdeGo team with their “iron bird” test rig. Image // VerdeGo Aero

The diesel engine inside the VH-3 is an exclusive variant of the certified SMA SR-305 that is
developed for VerdeGo’s hybrid systems. The VH-3’s diesel-hybrid architecture is compatible with
globally-available jet fuel or biofuel substitutes. This configuration provides compatibility with
existing fuel infrastructure and eliminates landing pad delays inherent with electric charging. In many cases, hybrid aircraft using the VH-3 can be designed to carry sufficient fuel to operate multiple back-to-back missions, both increasing utilization of the aircraft and eliminating the need for new energy infrastructure altogether at some landing sites. Energy for sequential missions is important since modular batteries may only be available at hubs, whereas outstations would have more minimal infrastructure to support flight operations for air taxis.

VerdeGo asserts that their powerplant significantly lowers operating costs and emissions when compared to typical powerplants for aircraft that the VH-3-185 would power. These would equate to 40% better fuel economy and lower overhaul costs, all while remaining quieter than existing powerplanes. VerdeGo claims that the VH-3-185 typically delivers a 4X to 7X increase in endurance when compared to current batteries while also having lower operating costs “due to the amortized per-flight cost of large, life-limited
battery packs that may need frequent replacement”.

Chief Executive Officer of VerdeGo Eric Bartsch characterized how the powerplant would fit into the timeline of the electrification of aviation: “The VH-3 hybrid system is designed to be compatible with the rationale for electrification, allowing airframers to develop hybrid-electric aircraft with mission capabilities that may not be available for 20 years in the battery-electric market, while enabling compliance with Part 91 or Part 135 energy reserve requirements for safe flight planning.”

VerdeGo shared that the VH-3-185 may be installed in three different configurations, including:

• 185kW of electrical power to arrays of electric propulsion motors and/or onboard battery packs in a series-hybrid architecture
• Directly driving a prop/rotor with up to 185kW of shaft power from the diesel engine in a parallel-hybrid architecture*
• Operating the generator as a motor powered by an onboard battery pack to provide up to
  185kW from the generator in a parallel-hybrid architecture
• Directly driving a prop/rotor with less than 185kW while sending the balance of the power
  from the diesel engine to power distributed electric power arrays, active aerodynamics,
  onboard systems, and/or battery pack
• Operating in “burst power” mode delivering the combined output of the diesel engine and
  the generator (operating as a motor powered by an onboard battery pack) for up to 370kW
  of shaft power

Why it’s important: VerdeGo’s value proposition focuses on ready-made hybrid electric propulsion that will bridge the gap between today’s internal combustion engine technology and tomorrow’s pure electric aviation propulsion. While electrification will likely be the end state of aviation propulsion within the next 50 years, the next step toward becoming fully electric is hybrid propulsion devices. These devices will both leverage the benefits of energy-dense of liquid fuels (such as diesel) and provide the advantages of electric motors in situations that require lower levels of sustained power such as lower noise and better operational efficiency.

Jaunt Air Mobility signs a memorandum of understanding with VerdeGo Aero of Daytona Beach, FL, to explore the development of a hybrid-electric aircraft. The combined technologies of Jaunt Air Mobility and VerdeGo’s hybrid powertrain offer customers the opportunity to fulfill a variety of market segments and missions. Jaunt and VerdeGo plan to develop a hybrid-electric version of the Jaunt aircraft utilizing VerdeGo’s hybrid-electric diesel (Jet-A) generator system combined with same battery systems being used for the Jaunt Journey. The added energy from the hybrid system will enable significant enhancements to mission capability for passenger, cargo, and military variants.

Rendering of how VerdeGo’s electric propulsion technology will integrate into an Airflow cargo eSTOL

Jaunt’s patented technology offers a proven aerodynamic design of a fixed-wing aircraft with efficient vertical take-off and landing capabilities. VerdeGo’s hybrid power system allows for longer missions, faster turnaround operations, and current infrastructure utilization. VerdeGo’s hybrid power systems run on globally-available Jet-A fuel, which will reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 40% when compared to competing turbine products, while providing 4X+ more energy than battery-electric powertrains.

“While confident in the battery-electric Jaunt Journey, for the urban air mobility market, our customers also have different operational mission requirements,” says Martin Peryea, CEO of Jaunt Air Mobility. “VerdeGo’s system offers a unique bridge to meeting those demands.”

The Jaunt Journey
Photograph: Jaunt Air Mobility

According to NASA, Hybrid-electric architectures have shown the potential for significant improvements when applied to fixed-wing aircraft; such improvements include energy consumption, noise, weight, propulsive efficiency, and aero-propulsive interactions, among others. The U.S. Air Force’s chief acquisition officer, Will Roper has stated that with the military’s goals of flying two to four military personnel 100 miles at speeds above 115 mph, it is likely that these aircraft will be hybrid-electric.

Why it’s important: As VerdeGo Aero’s CEO Eric Bartsch said, “the additional range enabled with VerdeGo’s hybrid system applied in the Jaunt aircraft will enable either longer missions or multiple short back-to-back missions without the requirement for energy infrastructure at every landing site. Rapid turnaround, high utilization, and enhanced mission capability make the hybrid aircraft extremely competitive.”

Source // VerdeGo Aero press release

Rendering of how VerdeGo’s electric propulsion technology will integrate into an Airflow cargo eSTOL

Airflow, a company founded by the former developers of the Airbus Vahana project, is creating an hybrid-electric, short take-off and landing (STOL) cargo aircraft for medium-distance cargo transport. According to Airflow’s founders, the idea behind the eSTOL is to solve the need for cost-efficient, high-speed, middle mile transportation, without the need for increased airport infrastructure. For example, the eSTOL could provide transport directly between e-commerce warehouses on the outskirts of major cities.

To create this aircraft, which will use innovative distributed electric propulsion, Airflow has partnered with VerdeGo Aero. Founded by grandson of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, VerdeGo Aero is one of the only companies providing IDEP (integrated distributed electric propulsion) solutions to new aircraft developers. VerdeGo has been gaining momentum in the IDEP industry, having partnered with Seyer Industries, Continental Aerospace, and XTI Aircraft for its new cargo VTOL. The company also recently ramped up its development process by optimizing its Hybrid Electric powertrain and propulsion system for production and commercial use.

While the Airflow eSTOL is not a VTOL aircraft, it seeks to solve many of the same cargo transport infrastructure problems that VTOL might, using the same innovative electric propulsion technology to limit infrastu. Airflow believes that by integrating middle-mile air transportation directly into warehouses, companies can move goods around much faster without major infrastructure development or operational costs. The below photo shows how warehouses might integrate an eSTOL directly into their rooftops:

How warehouses rooftops could integrate with Airflow eSTOL operations

VerdeGo Aero’s diesel (Jet-A) hybrid system combines a 180KW generator with a high-power battery pack that reduces emissions and fuel burn by 35% compared to conventional turbine powertrains. Integrating VerdeGo’s hybrid-electric powertrain to the eSTOL platform enhances the aircraft’s mission capabilities by extending range to four to ten times that of a battery-electric system.

Said Marc Ausman, CEO of Airflow: “Our ability to rapidly move cargo from a warehouse directly to another warehouse helps e-commerce companies centralize inventory and reduce carrying costs. These capabilities are made possible by continued strategic partnerships like VerdeGo Aero”

Why it’s important: Like VTOL aircraft, the Airflow eSTOL will enable air travel directly between destinations, allowing companies to more efficiently and more quickly transport goods. Distributed hybrid-electric propulsion will make this technology possible for eSTOL as well as eVTOL, and by forming partnerships with Airflow as well as other key companies, VerdeGo begins to show mastery of the emerging market for this key technology.

XTI Aircraft, famous for developing the XTI TriFan 600 VTOL passenger aircraft, is now creating a smaller, logistics & cargo version of its aircraft using VerdeGo Aero’s propulsion solutions.

Although both companies were originally developing their own eVTOL aircraft, VerdeGo transitioned to becoming a provider of IDEP (integrated distributed electric propulsion) systems in September of 2018. Since then, VerdeGo has become a prominent leader in providing electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for new kinds of VTOL aircraft, and has formed partnerships with major industry players such as Seyer Industries and Continental Aerospace. Most recently, VerdeGo tested a production-ready version of its hybrid-electric powertrain, and optimized its diesel-hybrid generator for commercial applications.

VerdeGo’s partnership with XTI may be its most important yet. For several years, XTI has been working to develop the XTI TriFan 600, a passenger hybrid-electric VTOL with impressive passenger capacity and speed and range performance statistics. Now, XTI has chosen to extend its offerings by adding a smaller, autonomous, cargo & logistics aircraft called the TriFan 200. This may be a very wise move for the company as it will help their flight technology reach more market segments and applications. The TriFan 200 will be powered by VerdeGo’s diesel (Jet-A) hybrid-electric powertrain.

The XTI 200 cargo & logistics aircraft, interior and exterior. The aircraft will use VerdeGo’s diesel (Jet-A) hybrid-electric powertrain (left).

According to a recent press release by VerdeGo, XTI and VerdeGo’s collaboration on the TriFan 200 will lead to outstanding operational flexibility, operating economics, and mission capability. When the program reaches commercial development and certification, the TriFan 200 aircraft will be an unmanned autonomous aircraft capable of transporting 500 lbs of cargo on missions of more than 200 nautical miles. Said Robert Labelle, CEO of XTI, “The TriFan 200 aircraft will open up a significant new market for XTI to address the needs of cargo and logistics operators globally. We are excited to be partnered with VerdeGo to leverage their experience with hybrid powertrains combined with our experience from the TriFan 600
program to create an efficient, economical, profitable VTOL aircraft for fleet operators
worldwide.”

Rendering of the XTI TriFan 200 pre-flight

Why it’s important: As the era of electric and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft inches closer to reality, it’s becoming apparent that initial use cases (especially for autonomy) will often be for cargo and logistics missions. The XTI TriFan 200 will fit this market need perfectly, allowing companies to move cargo far more quickly and efficiently than ever before. Specifically, the TriFan 200 will rapidly connect global air cargo hubs with distribution points throughout major cities, reducing the need for ground transportation of urgent deliveries. With this partnership, XTI furthers its market offerings, and VerdeGo Aero proves its capability to provide effective propulsion systems.

VerdeGo Aero’s eVTOL hybrid-electric powertrain – under development since 2018, has now begun testing.

VerdeGo Aero was originally founded to create its own air taxi, but pivoted in 2018 to providing hybrid powertrain solutions for eVTOL air taxi aircraft and more, making its business proposition almost completely unique. Founder Erik Lindbergh (grandson of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh) made this decision in order to create a company that could provide propulsion solutions for other budding aircraft developers. According to VerdeGo, first versions of the powertrain will include for customers electric motors, wiring, and controllers, batteries, and piston or turbine generators. The company recently partnered with Continental Aerospace and Seyer Industries for development, and is now set to provide propulsion systems for aircraft developers ASX and Transcend Air.

Top: The Transcend Air Vy400, Bottom: The ASX MOBi-ONE. Both these aircraft will be fitted with the VerdeGo Aero hybrid powertrain currently in testing.

This Week, CEO Eric Bartsch gave a company update during an Aviation Week UAM (Urban Air Mobility) online panel. Bartsch said:
“We’re now running at production power the most powerful piston hybrid system in the world down in our Florida headquarters in Daytona Beach. We’ve entered the test and refinement phase of that to get towards a conformal design to enter production with, so we’re really excited about that. And that’s moved from hardware that was under development to hardware that’s being tested to prove it every day.”

Why it’s important: VerdeGo’s transition into refinement testing marks a major milestone for the company. It not only represents near-completion of its mission, but has created the world’s powerful piston hybrid propulsion system, taking hybrid-electric propulsion to where it needs to be for vertical flight. If all goes well, we could very well begin seeing VerdeGo systems in the air within just a few short years.

VerdeGo Aero, a company specializing in the manufacturing of powertrains for hybrid-electric flying cars, has announced its strategic partnership with Seyer Industries, a long-time expert in Aerospace manufacturing.

VerdeGo Aero recently made a pivot from building its own flying car to providing fully fleshed out IDEP (integrated distributed electric propulsion) systems for eVTOL air taxis and similar aircraft. Founded by Erik Lindberg, the grandson of Charles Lindbergh, the company seeks to become an industry leader in designing and delivering the systems of electric motors, wiring, and controllers, batteries and hybrid engines necessary for propulsion.

An example of VerdeGo’s Aero’s hyrbid-electric eVTOL propulsion systems

The recent partnership between Seyer and VerdeGo includes financial investment from Seyer, as well as a commitment to jointly build a manufacturing supply chain for VerdeGo’s IDEP systems. Together, the two companies hope to enable the next generation of quiet, efficient, reliable aircraft for markets ranging from urban air mobility to Military missions. VerdeGo and Seyer will initially focus on producing hybrid systems, eventually transitioning into fully electric solutions as battery technology improves.

“The St Louis community was a key part of enabling both my grandfather’s historic flight, and
my work with the XPrize foundation on private spaceflight. It is really special to be partnering
with Seyer Industries to open up the next big leap in aviation – flying cars”–Charles Lindbergh, founder of VerdeGo Aero

Seyer Industries was founded in 1957 and is based out of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a supplier to both commercial and defense OEMs as well as a supplier directly to the US Department of Defense. Seyer is the winner of Lockheed Martin’s 2007 F-35 Small Business of the Year Award, the Premier Supplier Certification from Bell Helicopter in 2010, and Gulfstream’s Superior Performance Award in 2015.

“Seyer Industries sees a huge potential as innovative aerospace companies around the world compete to develop short-range VTOL aircraft with electric propulsion. Our financial investment in VerdeGo and our strategic supply chain partnership enables Seyer to become a key supplier for all of the aircraft utilizing VerdeGo’s IDEP systems.” –Chris Seyer, CEO of Seyer Industries

Why it’s important: VerdeGo Aero’s partnership with Seyer Industries shows that VerdeGo, along with other companies like EHang, is preparing to enter the large–scale manufacturing stage of its production. This indicates VerdeGo’s anticipation of a large upcoming market for its integrated distributed electric propulsion systems (IDEP) specifically made for urban VTOLs.