Wright Electric

Wright Electric is a startup company aiming to create a commercial airliner that runs on batteries and can handle flights under 300 miles. It will feature high aspect ratio wings for energy efficient flight, distributed electric aircraft propulsion and swappable battery packs with advanced cell chemistry. The 10-person Los Angeles based startup was founded in 2016 and has received venture capital from groups such as the Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator (company). The company is named after the Wright brothers. Wright publishes a monthly newsletter on sustainable aviation, the Weport.

In September 2017, UK budget carrier EasyJet announced it was developing an electric 180-seater for 2027 with Wright Electric. Wright Electric plans to develop a 10-seater and eventually an at least 120 passengers single-aisle, short-haul airliner and targets 50% lower noise and 10% lower costs.

To evaluate electric propulsion systems, two test stands were constructed: one with two 250 kW UQM motors and two Hartzell Propellers, built with Yates Electrospace, the other on a 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) trailer to be brought to high altitude test sites.