Airplane business adds 50 electric motors
One of North America’s largest commercial seaplane carriers agreed Monday to buy 50 electric engines from Everett manufacturer magniX, according to the HeraldNet of Everett, Washington.
Harbour Air, which operates up to 300 daily West Coast flights, signed a letter of intent to purchase 50 magni650 electric motors from magniX, which designs and builds electric motors to power aircraft at facilities near Paine Field. The airline is based in Richmond, British Columbia.
“The agreement is a milestone in electric aviation and a significant next step in the industry-leading partnership between magniX and Harbour Air,” the two companies said in a statement.
The motors will be used to electrify Harbour Air’s existing aircraft fleet.
“We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future” Bert van der Stege, the CEO of Harbour Air, said in a statement. “The agreement with magniX underscores our commitment to revolutionize commercial aviation with electric propulsion and to pave the way for cleaner, quieter, and more efficient air travel.”
Harbour Air plans to retrofit the first plane, a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, in 2026.
“Electrifying Harbour Air’s fleet with magniX’s engines sets us on a course to define the future of regional flight,” Riona Armesmith, magniX’s chief technology officer, said in a statement.