SAS has the option to add Heart’s electric 30-seat regional airliner to its fleet.
Sweden is to invest at least SEK15 million ($1.4 million) a year to help enable electric aviation and is considering the introduction of electric aircraft on subsidized public service obligation routes.
The government has directed the Swedish Transport Administration to make targeted investments to help develop and test technology to electrify aviation. The agency will also investigate how electric aircraft can be used for government-supported domestic flights.
Sweden has already committed to making all domestic flights fossil-free by 2030. Swedish carrier Braathens Regional Airlines conducted the first flight of a commercial aircraft powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel in June 2022, using an ATR 72.
Swedish startup Heart Aerospace is developing a 30-seat regional airliner, the ES-30, designed to fly 200 km (125 mi.) on batteries and up to 400 km using a hybrid-electric reserve system. The aircraft is planned to fly in 2026 and enter service in 2028.
Heart founder and CEO Anders Forslund has said that government action, including incentives, will be needed to enable the transition to electrified aviation. Norway has already committed to begin domestic electric flights by 2030 and to electrify all flights under 1.5 hr. by 2040.
The Swedish Transport Administration has been tasked with analyzing whether current regulations enable the use of electric aircraft for public service obligation flights by Mar 31., 2024. If they conclude that they do not, the agency will look to propose measures that would contribute to the early introduction of electric aircraft.
The agency has also been charged with increasing cooperation between organizations involved in research and innovation in electric aviation.
