GE Aerospace Invests $300 Million in BETA Technologies as Companies Partner to Develop Hybrid Electric Turbogenerator
GE Aerospace and BETA will co-develop a hybrid electric turbogenerator for defense and civil applications.
(Cincinnati, Ohio) GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and electric conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) developer BETA Technologies announced today a new strategic partnership and equity investment agreement, subject to regulatory approval, whereby GE will invest $300 million in BETA and the companies will co-develop a hybrid electric turbogenerator for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications.
Photo of BETA’s A250 eVTOL in flight at the company’s headquarters in Vermont courtesy of BETA Technologies.
The goal of the partnership is to accelerate the development of hybrid electric aviation, by combining BETA’s rapid innovation approach with GE Aerospace’s global scale and experience, according to today’s press release from BETA.
The hybrid electric turbogenerator will be developed for a variety of hybrid electric applications, including long-range Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft and future BETA aircraft.
Per The Air Current, the turbogenerator will be based on GE’s CT7/T700 turboshaft engine family, which powers Sikorsky Black Hawks and other helicopter models, and will be immediately applied in the electric vertical takeoff and landing variant of BETA’s ALIA aircraft, particularly for defense applications.
“The collaboration brings BETA’s expertise in high-performance, permanent magnet electric generators together with GE Aerospace’s tested turbine, certification and safety expertise for large-scale manufacturing and electrical power systems expertise,” reads today’s press release.
The hybrid solution is expected to bring significant enhancements in range, payload and speed performance vs. comparable aircraft in the same segment.
Photo of BETA Technologies CEO Kyle Clark and GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. in front of a BETA aircraft at this year’s Paris Air Show courtesy of BETA Technologies.
Per the GE Aerospace-BETA agreement, GE Aerospace will also 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, Jr.
Kyle Clark, BETA Technologies’ Founder and CEO, said “This partnership brings together two teams deeply committed to and guided by aerospace engineering excellence and building the future of flight. 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.”
