Battery system for Dufour Aero2

In October 2023, Air Energy was selected to supply the battery system for the unmanned hybrid-electric VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) Aero2 from the Swiss aviation company Dufour Aerospace. This will consist of the housing, the battery modules including the mechanical and electrical connections and the battery management. The battery system is a critical component of the overall system, as the VTOL configuration requires high performance, especially in the take-off and landing phase, while at the same time absolute reliability must be guaranteed during hovering flight.

Dufour Aero2

© Dufour Aerospace

With over 30 years of experience in the development of battery systems for drones and aircraft, Air Energy is the ideal partner to ensure the highest possible quality in both the battery system and the self-developed battery management. The battery management system also allows charging during flight so that the landing approach can be carried out with a full charge and with the maximum available power.

Dufour Aerospace is a Swiss aviation company that develops aircraft based on the tilt-wing principle. These combine the ability to land in confined spaces like helicopters with the high cruising speed and cost-effectiveness of fixed-wing aircraft. The Dufour Aero2 is the latest development from the Swiss company and is intended to lay the foundation for further developments in the area of VTOL. In addition to the unmanned Aero2, another model is planned, the manned Aero3, which will offer space for up to eight passengers in a spacious cabin.

 


 

Specifications

Wing span:
6.1 m
Length:
 4.1 m
Payload:
40 kg
max. takeoff mass:
208 kg
Range:
~400 km
Cruise speed:
150 km/h
Propulsion:
4 electric motors mounted on the wing +1 on the tail
a single 2 cylinder boxer engine to recharge the batteries