ELISE - Electric Air Transport In Sweden

Research Project, 2018

This project creates a plan for the development and utilization of electric aircraft in Sweden. It is a collaboration between Chalmers, RISE Viktoria, QRTECH and the Civil Aviation Administration, with a reference group including SAAB, GKN Aerospace, Volvo Cars and Gothenburg City. Aviation accounts for 2% of global CO2 emissions, and the proportion is expected to increase to 15-27% by 2050. Therefore, Germany, the US and China are pursuing major investments in electric aircraft.

The development is only in its infancy but flying prototypes have already been flown. Meanwhile, use cases have been identified for short-haul transport. Sweden has a strong aerospace industry and a transport infrastructure that relies on air travel. The project joins the aerospace industry and technology companies with authorities, health services, police, fire brigades, urban planners, energy companies and transport companies to evaluate how electric aircraft technology best can serve Sweden. The project´s initiation step brings together a consortium to develop a roadmap. The perspectives are social need, technical prerequisites, and international positioning. An appropriate first application is identified, with the goal of building half-scale prototype in Step 2 and a full-scale prototype in Step 3. Electric aircraft contribute to Agenda 2030 targets 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13, by reducing emissions and noise, developing sustainable and innovative industries, and enhancing urban-rural interaction.