To address the needs of regional air mobility and electric general aviation, Aura Aero, an aircraft manufacturer in hybrid and electric aircraft, has signed a memorandum of understanding with EDF (Electricité de France) to work together on future electric aviation, notably on the electric charging of aircraft.

This partnership aims to define the charging infrastructures and means that will be required given the operational needs and rotation scenarios of electric and hybrid aircraft at airports.

In the frame of this agreement, with different operational scenarios depending on aircraft size and operation type, Aura Aero and EDF will carry out a technical study to evaluate charging needs and frame an evolutive strategy over time, covering the different types of airports and airfields in Europe. Both parties believe this project will interest other players with whom they could collaborate in the future, such as airport operators, territorial collectivities, airlines or professional associations.

Another innovation, which was presented at the recent Paris Air Show, is a charging station prefiguring the superchargers of tomorrow intended for Aura Aero's Integral E two seat electric aircraft. These charging infrastructures will eventually be available in every airport, and their deployment is already being prepared. Izivia, an EDF Group subsidiary, will mobilise its skills for the provision of these stations, essential for the development of electric aviation.

Christelle Vives, general manager of Izivia, explains: “With 25 years of experience in charging and a fast charge network of over 1,000 charging stations for road transport that is constantly growing, Izivia is proud to be able to provide charging stations tomorrow for an ever more C02 neutral air transport.”

EDF Group is convinced that electric mobility can apply to all types of transport and is committed to supporting the aviation sector in its transition towards a greener and more sustainable aviation, by supplying a 96 per cent CO2 free electricity mix in France.

Jérémy Caussade, CEO and co-founder of Aura Aero, says: "We are very happy to partner with EDF, a key player in the field of electricity in France, in order to implement charging solutions for electric aircraft. Together, we are taking another great step towards the decarbonisation of regional aviation, and it's moving on fast.”

Marc Benayoun, executive director in charge of customers, services and territories at EDF Group, adds: “Decarbonising transport is an important challenge for EDF, either for road or air transport: the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels including e-kerosene, the solutions to power the first electric aircraft, the deployment of charging stations to charge the means of connection used on tarmacs or the solutions to optimise the charging of electric vehicles on car parks are all ideas for fostering the emergence of an air future that will emit less CO2.”