A new aircraft battery pack manufacturing facility opened in Longueuil. H55 is a Swiss aviation company that specializes in electric propulsion systems. The company says electric aviation is picking up speed as they’ve already sold 100 electric aircraft, powered by battery packs made in Longueuil, next to St-Hubert airport on Montreal’s South Shore. “This region has recognized the importance of these new technologies of the importance to develop clean aviation,” said H55 co-Founder Andre Borchberg. Partners like CAE, Pratt & Whitney, and Harbour Air are working with H55, which says their electric propulsion system aircraft are set to take off next year. “Safety of the electric aircraft actually brings us to the next level. If you compare an aircraft with a single combustion engine with what we do here, we are much safer because in all intents and purposes, we have two systems in one,” said Martin Larose, CEO of H55. “The electric motor is fully redundant. You’re able to lose one of the electric motors within the casing and still fly with the second.” Batteries produced here in Quebec are used for different applications within aviation. “Batteries can be put on board to electrify certain systems, not necessarily the propulsion systems, but the landing gear and other systems. And that’s all fuel savings,” said Gregory Blatt, H55 co-founder. Quebec is contributing $10 million to get production off the ground. “We have all the talent that’s required to do so, and I’m really happy that it’s H55 has chosen to establish itself in Quebec,” said Economy Minister Christine Frechette. The battery assembly line in Longueuil is another part of the aerospace innovation zone growing on the South Shore.
