VerdeGo Aero is to provide its diesel engine to power the TriFan 200 eVTOL freighter being developed by XTI Aircraft. The new model is a smaller version of XTI's already in-development TriFan 600 VTOL passenger aircraft.

The TriFan 200, intended for unmanned, autonomous cargo and logistics transportation, will be powered by VerdeGo’s high-efficiency, low-emissions hybrid-electric powertrain, which includes a 180KW generator, along with its high-power battery pack. The diesel (jet-A)-hybrid generator is key to the reduction of emissions and fuel burn by 35 percent compared to a conventional turbine powertrain, while according to Florida-based engine maker, reducing direct operating costs by 40 percent.

“XTI’s TriFan 200 is an outstanding application for VerdeGo’s hybrid powertrain systems, and we are excited to support XTI as an early customer,” noted Eric Bartsch, the CEO, and co-founder of the electric propulsion systems manufacturer. “XTI’s goals to provide its customers with reliable, high-performance cargo aircraft are ideally matched with the efficiency of low operating costs of VerdeGo’s diesel hybrid powertrains.”

While the project is still in the early stages of conceptual design, using XTI’s existing two-thirds scale model of the TriFan 600 aircraft as the baseline, the aircraft, once certified will be capable of carrying 500 pounds of cargo on flights of more than 200 miles, enabling it to fulfill short-distance, time-critical missions more rapidly than ground transportation.

“The TriFan 200 aircraft will open up a significant new market for XTI to address the needs of cargo and logistics operators globally,” said Robert Labelle, CEO of the privately-held XTI, which is headquartered near Denver, Colo. “We are excited to be partnered with VerdeGo to leverage their experience with hybrid powertrains, combined with our experience from the TriFan 600 program to create an efficient, economical, profitable VTOL aircraft for fleet operators worldwide.”

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