The E-Fan electric aircraft will be produced at Pau airport (south western France). This was announced by Airbus group at a press conference in Bordeaux on 30 April. The Bordeaux-Merignac site, which had initially been tipped to build the flight school designated electric aircraft has finally been discarded.
The Pau site has several advantages for Airbus Group: good weather, low air traffic frequency making flight testing easier, and lower land costs.
Airbus Group also unveiled images of the future plant, built in the form of the E-Fan cockpit. Fifteen people will work in the 1,500 sq. m. (16,000 sq. ft.) building, close to the airport’s runways. The plant will assemble the E-Fan 2.0, the latest version of the electric two-seater, which is capable of reaching 160 km/h (100 mph). and has a one-hour flight autonomy.
Jean Botti, deputy CEO Technology and Innovation Airbus Group: interview in the video.
Voltair, an Airbus subsidiary in charge of the E-Fan, should initially produce five units per year, but targets a rate of 80 per year by 2025. The E-Fan sale price should be between 150,000 and 200,000 euros.
Fifty million euros have already been invested in the project, which includes 20 million from Airbus Group. The rest is shared between the partner companies, the region and the French state. The E-Fan is one of 34 major government.supported industrial projects.
The plant is expected to open within the next two years. In the meantime, the E-Fan will be displayed at the Paris Air Show, and this July will undertake a new challenge: crossing the English Channel.
