Civil Municipal - June 2024

“The roadmap to an energy density of 400Wh/kg or more is looking very promising,” he says. In April, Canadian seaplane operator Harbour Air signalled intention to purchase 50 electric propulsion systems from Magnix, a move supporting its goal of creating a fleet of all-electric De Havilland Canada aircraft. Magnix supports development of Eviation’s all- electric Alice commuter aircraft, which is currently powered by twin 700kW Magni650 motors. The Magni650 electric propulsion unit has also been applied to Universal Hydrogen’s modified De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 demonstrator. Increasing the energy density of batteries has been a high priority for the electric aviation sector, with ranges and payloads limited by currently available technology. Magnix’s battery line is intended to maximize energy density for aviation and other high- performance applications. It is also designed for fast turnaround times, ”with active on-ground cooling during charging, and the option for passive cooling in flight, minimizing weight and complexity in the aircraft”. The company claims the battery’s modular architecture will allow it to support larger aircraft. Reed Macdonald, appointed chief executive of Magnix last month, adds that the Samson300 is “just the beginning”. 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 06