GE Aerospace and South Burlington, Vermont-based Beta Technologies Inc. have struck a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of a hybrid electric turbogenerator for advanced air mobility (AAM).
Applications include long-range Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft and future Beta aircraft and will combine Beta’s permanent magnet electric generators with GE Aerospace’s turbine, certification and safety expertise for large-scale manufacturing. This hybrid solution will leverage existing infrastructure and capabilities, such as GE Aerospace’s CT7 and T700 engines.
As part of the deal, GE Aerospace will make an equity investment of $300 million in Beta. GE Aerospace will have the right to designate a director to join Beta’s Board.
“Partnering with Beta will expand and accelerate hybrid electric technology development, meeting our customers’ needs for differentiated capabilities that provide more range, payload, and optimized engine and aircraft performance,” said GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp.
The deal is part of GE Aerospace’s pursuit of a suite of technologies for the future of flight, including integrated hybrid electric propulsion systems and advanced new engine architectures.
“We believe the industry is on the precipice of a real step change, and we’re humbled that GE Aerospace has the confidence in our team, technology, and iterative approach to innovation to partner with us. We look forward to partnering to co-develop products that will unlock the potential of hybrid electric flight, and to do it with the rigor, reliability, and safety that aviation demands,” said Kyle Clark, Beta Technologies’ Founder and CEO.
Beta’s “Alia” five-passenger VTOL and conventional electric aircraft charge in less than an hour, according to Beta’s website. They are engineered for all-weather performance and have been tested to operate reliably in a wide range of environmental conditions across the U.S. and Europe. ALIA’s electric propulsion and battery systems — which are developed in-house — offers reliable, high-tempo performance, as well as a quieter sound profile than conventional aircraft.
GE Aerospace and Beta also announced the two companies will collaborate to develop an additional offering for the AAM industry but offered no additional details.
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