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By Bjorn Fehrm

June 29, 2023, © Leeham News: In our series on fundamental costs factors that make up Cash Operating Cost, COC (Fuel, Maintenance, Airway/Airport fees, Crew costs) for new Green airliners, we have analyzed the energy costs and now move on to the maintenance costs.

For a battery-based airliner with range extenders, it’s a complex mix of battery and gas turbine costs.

Figure 1. The Heart Aerospace ES-30 hybrid 30-seat airliner. Source: Heart Aerospace.

Summary:

• The maintenance costs for a battery-based airliner are high. It’s the batteries that cost, not the electric motors.
• Adding range extenders complicates the propulsion system and adds further costs.