Electric Airplane Fleet By 2026? That’s The Goal, United Says

NEWARK, NJ — Electric airplanes may sound like a futuristic idea. But the technology is already here – and United Airlines is ready to make a big investment in it.

On Tuesday, United Airlines Ventures, the airline’s corporate venture capital fund, announced it is officially among the first investors in Heart Aerospace, an electric aircraft startup company.

Heart’s claim to fame? The ES-19, a 19-seat electric aircraft that has the potential to fly customers up to 250 miles at a time.

Along with Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Mesa Airlines, United Ventures will be investing in the company, with hopes of developing a new fleet of “carbon-neutral” airplanes to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Here’s how the aircraft work, according to United, which has a hub at Newark Liberty International Airport:

“By utilizing electric motors instead of jet engines, and batteries instead of jet fuel, Heart's ES-19 aircraft will have zero operational emissions. Seating 19 passengers, the ES-19 aircraft will also be larger than any of its all-electric competitors and will be designed to operate on the same types of batteries used in electric cars.”

United is ready to put its money where its mouth is, spokespeople said. The airline is poised to buy 100 of the cutting-edge planes once they’re able to meet its safety, business and operating requirements ... the same number that Mesa Airlines plans to purchase.

Once they’re in the skies – and the plan is to have them on the market as early as 2026 – the ES-19 could potentially operate on more than 100 of United's regional routes out of “most of its hubs,” the company said.

“We recognize that customers want even more ownership of their own carbon emissions footprint,” said Michael Leskinen, president of United Ventures.

“We're proud to partner with Mesa Air Group to bring electric aircraft to our customers earlier than any other U.S. airliner,” Leskinen added.

According to Carmichael Roberts of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, vehicles like the ES-19 will allow airlines to operate “at a fraction of the cost of today,” and have the potential to change the way people fly.

“We believe electric aircraft can be transformational in reducing the emissions of the industry, and enable low-cost, quiet and clean regional travel on a broad scale,” Roberts said.

“Electric aircraft are happening now — the technology is already here,” said Anders Forslund CEO of Heart Aerospace.

“We couldn't be prouder to be partnering with United, Mesa and Breakthrough Energy Ventures on taking our ES-19 aircraft to market,” Forslund said. “I can't imagine a stronger coalition of partners to advance our mission to electrify short-haul air travel.”

• See related article: United Airlines Says It Will Be '100% Green' By 2050
• See related article: United Airlines Wants To Train More Female, Minority Pilots

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