The Netherlands / Dutch startup Maeve Aerospace B.V. has taken a significant step towards sustainable commercial aviation by designing an all-electric passenger aircraft. The aircraft’s latest concept update was recently unveiled at Maeve’s online event.
The aircraft, named Maeve 01, was recently introduced and can seat 44 passengers with a minimum range of 460 km (285 miles) excluding reserve. This is comparable to the distance between London and Amsterdam. Current advancements in battery technology will further increase this flying range in the near future. Additionally, the cabin space can be expanded, allowing for a 20% increase in passenger capacity up to 52 passengers.
The European Innovation Council and a government-funded investor have expressed their confidence through a €17,5 million co-investment. Founders Jan Willem Heinen and Joost Dieben said, "The Maeve 01 is a serious contender to replace fossil fuel-powered aircraft. Analysis shows that annually over 200 million passengers worldwide fly on routes less than 400 km. For many of these routes travel by car or train cannot be considered an alternative, as in the case of the route Taipei-Penghu. As entrepreneurs, we are committed to achieving this with the whole team at Maeve Aerospace and our current and future partners."
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CFO Erwin Koenraads said, "The global demand for a zero-emission passenger aircraft like Maeve 01 is undeniable. We invite all airlines, investors, and the rest of the global aviation sector to discuss the financial, technical, and sustainability aspects of our Maeve 01 aircraft. Embracing sustainability is the key to securing a financially viable future for commercial aviation." Meanwhile, Maeve is already seeing strong business interest and customer traction. Only recently ramping up its commercial activities, Maeve has already secured a total of 20x Maeve 01 aircraft reservations with various operators, including New Zealand's Air Napier and zero-emission operator ‘Fly by Lucy’.
Low-Noise, Emission-Free Test Flight
The Maeve 01 will not only operate at zero-emissions but will also produce considerably less noise pollution than today's aircrafts. Maeve Aerospace's Chief Technology Officer Martin Nüsseler said, "This emission-free aircraft generates significantly less noise, which will increase the livability in- and around airports. There is a worldwide demand for that as well." Maeve's technical team expects to conduct the first test flights at the start of 2028. The development of Maeve 01 is on track for entry into service at the start of 2030.
