Norway's Elfly Group has presented its new design for an all-electric commercial seaplane, dubbed Noemi (for No Emission) in Oslo. A 100-strong audience comprising international industry guests, stakeholders, members of the Innovation Research Group SINTEF, municipalities and media, experienced a full-scale cabin virtual reality (VR) tour of this innovative amphibious aircraft (EG1A).

The Noemi is being designed for flexible mobility in Norway with a design inspired by a boat, whose hull will enable the aircraft to take off using little power. The prototype non-passenger version of Noemi is being readied for flight in 2025 and designed for 200km air journeys, flying at up to 250kmh speed, from 2030. The seaplane, with a non-pressurised cabin, will be powered by two electric motors with up to 1MW combined output.

Elfly's design is part of a research project, funded by private investors and the Research Council of Norway (RCN).

The group is working to obtain certification for its EG1A test vehicle to CS23 Level 4, which will enable the aircraft to evolve up to a 19 seat seaplane. Noemi, however, is being offered in three cabin layouts. First and foremost, as a business/executive cabin with nine seats, plus luggage, complemented by a VIP layout with six seats, wherein the whole aircraft could be chartered. A tourist pleasure flight model with 13 seats, minus baggage, will also be offered. In a nod to its flexible functionality, a cargo version is also planned, plus a medevac version.

Unlike other electric aircraft developers, Elfly intends to pursue an operator's certificate and bring the first aircraft into service, initially connecting the fjords of Norway. The desire is to have the first 15 seaplanes flying along the west coast of Norway by 2030. “Thereafter, we could expand into other short hop markets, considering that 80 per cent of the world's population live by the sea,” says CEO Eric Lithun, a technology entrepreneur who has invested in several start-up companies and who founded Elfly in 2018 in Bergen. “Our goal is to bring innovation to the whole supply chain and make the process as seamless as possible,” he adds.

The Noemi is a modern-day amphibious aircraft with lithium batteries and an electric engine, inspired by the venerable de Havilland Twin Otter and Grumman's Mallard. “Two great flying machines,” he says. The Noemi will feature a large cargo door, and its cabin will be fully accessible for wheelchair users.

"With the world focused on sustainability and the environment (Norway has pledged to be all-electric in 2040; Denmark and Sweden a decade earlier) we see wider opportunities with the creation of affordable sea terminals, versus complex infrastructure," he continues.

Norway is ideally located to pioneer next-gen, environmentally friendly seaplanes, with more than 1,000 fjords and 450,000 lakes. Potential routes include Bergen to Stavanger, used by 550,000 passengers annually. Some 500,000 travel by bus, undergoing a three hour journey, and 70,000 go by ferry. The Noemi would cut journey time to under an hour.

Elfly will be at Paris Air Show between 19-23 June, where it plans to disclose new partners and suppliers of the project.