High-power electric aircraft charging and liquid cooling project wins $4.6M funding

Vertical Aerospace will lead a new UK-backed project to develop faster electric aircraft charging and liquid-cooling systems, targeting a key infrastructure problem that could determine how quickly electric aviation moves toward commercial operations. The ECLiPSE (Electrified Charging & Liquid-cooling Provision for Support of E-flights) project will bring together Vertical, the University of Bath, and engineering technology and consulting firm InnCat Ltd. The partners will work on high-power charging and thermal management systems designed to reduce infrastructure costs and make electric aircraft easier to operate at high frequency. The project has received support through the UK Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator program. It represents a total investment of about $4.5 million (£3.4 million), including up to $2.3 million (£1.75 million) in government funding, subject to completion of the grant agreement. The announcement comes as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft move closer to commercial service, putting greater pressure on airports and vertiports to recharge aircraft quickly between flights. Charging bottlenecks meet cooling The ECLiPSE team will focus on two connected challenges: delivering more power to aircraft in less time and managing the heat generated during high-power charging. The technology is expected to improve charging performance while reducing the size of charging systems, simplifying installation and lowering long-term operating costs. Faster charging and improved thermal management could also reduce aircraft turnaround times, allowing operators to schedule more flights from the same infrastructure. Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “To unlock commercial electric aviation, the industry needs the infrastructure that allows aircraft to recharge quickly, operate efficiently and scale economically. Through ECLiPSE, we’re making electric flight operational and commercially viable, while strengthening the UK’s leadership in next-generation aerospace innovation.” The project is part of a wider ($57 million) £43 million UK Government funding package for next-generation aviation technology. It also adds another layer to the UK’s support for Vertical, which has previously received backing through programs including the Aerospace Technology Institute and the Future Flight Challenge. The company is developing its Valo piloted electric aircraft, a four-passenger eVTOL designed to operate with zero operating emissions. It is also working on a hybrid-electric version aimed at providing greater range and mission flexibility. Building the electric flight ecosystem Vertical said the charging and cooling technologies developed through ECLiPSE could eventually find applications beyond aviation as more parts of the transport sector shift toward electrification. The company is also in advanced discussions with the UK Government over a potential package to support the first of its planned global full-production sites in the country. The proposed package includes a further grant of up to £10 million, which would bring total direct UK Government funding support to about £48 million. The move highlights a broader challenge facing electric aviation. Developing an aircraft is only one part of bringing zero-emission flight to market. Operators will also need charging infrastructure capable of delivering large amounts of power quickly without adding excessive cost or complexity. Vertical has about 1,500 pre-orders for Valo from customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines. The company is headquartered in Bristol, UK.The project could therefore help address a practical question facing the emerging eVTOL industry: how to keep electric aircraft in the air and minimize the time they spend waiting to recharge.Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.