Introducing Ecojet: emission-free air travel powered by renewable energy
The world’s first electric airline is set to revolutionise business travel with its retrofitted hydrogen-electric planes, offering emission-free journeys powered by renewable energy.
Ecojet, the groundbreaking brainchild of Ecotricity founder Dale Vince,will launch as the world’s inaugural Electric Airline, ushering in a new era of sustainable and emission-free air travel.
This monumental development paves the way for net-zero journeys, ensuring a greener future for business travellers.
Ecojet’s fleet will consist of retrofitted conventional aircraft equipped with cutting-edge hydrogen-electric powertrains.
This transformation will enable these planes to maintain their original power output while achieving a remarkable 100% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Unlike building entirely new aircraft, the decision to repurpose existing planes should yield extraordinary environmental benefits, saving a staggering 90,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Moreover, the only byproduct generated will be water, which can be captured and released into the lower atmosphere, effectively mitigating the detrimental effects of contrails.
In collaboration with seasoned pilot Brent Smith and a team of accomplished aviation specialists, Dale Vince has spearheaded the establishment of Ecojet.
The airline is scheduled to commence operations in early 2024, with initial flights operating on the Edinburgh to Southampton route. Subsequently, Ecojet plans to expand its services to mainland Europe, while long-haul flights are also envisioned for the future.
Ecojet is committed to adopting further innovative measures on board to reduce the aviation industry’s ecological footprint. These include serving plant-based meals, eliminating single-use plastic, and equipping the staff with environmentally-friendly uniforms. By implementing these radical changes, Ecojet aims to make a lasting positive impact.
The aviation sector currently contributes approximately 3% of global CO2 emissions, but its overall climate impact is estimated to be three times higher due to the release of fossil fuel pollution at high altitudes. Ecojet’s ground-breaking initiative aims to eliminate this colossal negative impact, setting the stage for the aviation industry to embrace electric planes on a larger scale. Ecojet is poised to lead this transformation, with the airline estimating it is a decade ahead of its industry counterparts in pioneering what Dale Vince describes as “the biggest revolution in the aviation industry since the invention of the jet engine.”
To secure routes and obtain the necessary license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Ecojet will initially launch using conventionally-fueled planes as a short-term measure.
The airline will deploy two types of retrofitted turboprop aircraft (19-seat and 70-seat variants) to commence operations.
These aircraft will subsequently be fitted with hydrogen-electric powertrains once approved for service by the CAA, with the retrofitting process commencing in 2025, a year after the launch of flights.
Dale Vince shares his vision, stating,
The question of how to create sustainable air travel has long plagued the green movement. Ecojet represents the most significant stride toward a solution to date. The innate human desire to explore our incredible world will finally be fulfilled without causing harm, as we embark on flights that are free from CO2 emissions and powered by renewable energy.
With Ecojet’s visionary approach and commitment to a sustainable future, the landscape of business travel is set to be revolutionised, making every journey an opportunity to protect and preserve our planet.
