Belgian lithium battery technology company SOLiTHOR and aerospace company Sonaca have signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding where they will jointly develop rechargeable solid-state lithium battery systems for Regional Aircraft and Urban Air Mobility. The partnership will also expand to satellite and defence systems.
The partnership is expected to divide key activities in the research, development, production and integration of cells and battery systems designed for powering aircraft.
SOLiTHOR will be responsible for cell research, development, testing characterisation, format design and production of 10Ah-40Ah cell. Sonaca will develop the battery packaging including all related management systems, and certification of the battery system.
The cells will be produced and manufactured by SOLiTHOR in Flanders, Belgium and integration of the aircraft battery systems will take place at Sonaca’s plant based in Wallonia, Belgium.
Sonaca has set itself the goal of contributing to the development of a low-carbon aircraft by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, by producing low noise and energy efficiencies in powering aircraft.
In doing so, this would allow the industry to make more effective use of smaller regional airports and go some way to address their under-utilisation worldwide.
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