Bye Energy, Cessna Team On Electric 172

Cessna is teaming up with George Bye of Bye Energy to design a proof-of-concept electric-powered 172, Cessna said this week at EAA AirVenture. “As we look at the landscape of alternative fuels for general aviation aircraft, the electric powerplant offers significant benefits, but there are significant challenges to get there,” said Cessna CEO Jack Pelton. “We believe Bye Energy has gotten off to a good start in understanding those challenges and how to overcome them.” Cessna said it expects to fly the electric Skyhawk by the end of this year, but Bye told AVweb he was shooting for the first quarter of next year.

Cessna is teaming up with George Bye of Bye Energy to design a proof-of-concept electric-powered 172, Cessna said this week at EAA AirVenture. "As we look at the landscape of alternative fuels for general aviation aircraft, the electric powerplant offers significant benefits, but there are significant challenges to get there," said Cessna CEO Jack Pelton. "We believe Bye Energy has gotten off to a good start in understanding those challenges and how to overcome them." Cessna said it expects to fly the electric Skyhawk by the end of this year, but Bye told AVweb he was shooting for the first quarter of next year.

Bye also said the first generation of the alternative 172 will have an auxiliary power unit powered by jet fuel to provide a four-hour range. Cessna has delivered more than 43,000 172s, more than any other general aviation aircraft.

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