China Unveils 19-Seater Electric Aircraft

A small red-bodied aircraft has been revealed on the runway of a Chinese airport.

The name of China Commercial Aircraft Corporation, COMAC, is visible alongside the model number CE-25A written on the tail fin.

It is a pure electric aircraft prototype made by China.

COMAC released photos of the aircraft on October 28, stating that it can carry 19 passengers and fly 400 to 500 kilometers at a cruising speed of 400 kilometers per hour.

This prototype release comes three years after the concept aircraft was first unveiled at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2023.

Particularly noticeable is its distributed electric propulsion system, which features a total of 10 electric-driven ducted fans—5 on each wing.

Experts believe the design achieves stable propulsion through a distributed power output method.

However, only photos of the aircraft moving on the runway were released, and flight footage has not yet been made public.

Electric aircraft are known to be difficult to develop and face limitations in scaling up due to challenges such as lower battery energy density compared to aviation fuel and battery thermal management.

In the United States, a small electric aircraft called X1, developed by aviation startup Heart Aerospace, successfully completed its first crewed flight last August.

In the recent aviation market, centering around Europe, discussions are underway to reduce carbon emissions by deploying pure electric passenger planes or hybrid airliners combining conventional engines with electric propulsion on short-haul routes.

Following competition in AI development and advanced technologies, a fierce rivalry between US and Chinese companies is also unfolding in the electric aircraft sector.

(Video Editing: Kim Byeong-jik, Video Sources: Baidu @Yiziachuanhangde A350, Heart Aerospace YouTube)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.