British lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology company, Oxis Energy and Texas Aircraft Manufacturing are developing a fully electric aircraft for pilot training and commercial flights in Brazil.
All of the aircraft’s key airframe and power components will be manufactured in Brazil with Oxis supplying its cells to Brazilian firm AKAER Group of São José dos Campos to be made into batteries alongside its battery management system.
The 90kWh battery system— using Oxis’ 400Wh/kg HighPower cell— will weigh around 225kg, with the packaging of the cells into battery modules adding around 50kg.
The cells will be manufactured in Oxis’ Brazilian plant, which is being built with the Minas Gerais Development Company Codemge, using cathodes and electrolyte manufactured in Oxis’ Kenfig Hill plant in Wales.
No timeline for the project has been announced.
BEST reported last December how Oxis planned to have the fully digitalised plant commissioned and operating by 2023, with Phase 1 enabling the production of five million lithium-sulfur cells per annum.
Initially the flight time will be in excess of two hours and an approximate range of 200 nautical miles.
Huw Hampson-Jones, CEO, OXIS Energy, told BEST the key advantages of lithium-sulfur was reduced weight, and enhanced safety.
In May, Oxis hired Scott Davis to manage cell production at its new manufacturing plant in Wales.
Davis will manage the Oxford-based firm’s new facility at Kenfig Hill near Port Talbot, which is due to start producing cathode and electrolyte to support the production of 500,000 lithium-sulfur cells next year.
Oxis has achieved 471Wh/kg in a prototype high-energy lithium-sulfur cell and aim to reach 500Wh/kg by January 2021.
