Paris Air Show: MagniX powers up for the future with next generation battery technology
June 19, 2025
Technology firm MagniX is progressing the certification of its Samson battery after unveiling a new higher-energy-density battery powered by a 400Wh/kg cell.
“We spent nearly two years trying to find the right partner and testing cells,” Riona Armesmith, CTO at MagniX told Aerospace Global News. Eventually the company decided to develop the cells themselves.
Game changing solution
Having debuted its Samson battery range last summer, with the Samson300, the breakthrough in energy density is a “major step forward,” as it will extend the range and payload of small (six to nine-seat) electric aircraft .“It is a game changer to have the energy density we have achieved combined with the high life cycle,” she said.
MagniX is planning its first test flight with the new Samson400 next year. However, Armesmith couldn’t disclose a timeline for certification, as it has to be conducted in conjunction with certification of the aircraft platform – a process out of MagniX’s control.
“We’ve really led in certification of the electric engine, so we’re just applying what we’ve done on the engine side and bringing it to the battery side as well,” she added. “Our Samson battery product is establishing itself as the go-to choice both for aerospace and for other high-end applications that require exceptional energy density, safety features, reliability and long-cycle life.”
Real-world experience
The company is already partnered with Vancouver-based Harbour Air on its eBeaver programme modifying the carriers existing Cessna seaplanes with all-electric MagniX propulsion systems.
“Our collaboration with Harbour Air has been hugely beneficial,” noted Armesmith. “It’s provided us with real world experience so we can understand the requirements and what works.” She also revealed that while an eBeaver fuelled with Avgas costs around $270 per hour, the electric model is just $23.
MagniX is also working with Unithur, which flew the first piloted hydrogen-electric helicopter (a Robinson R44) earlier this year. “Unithur is a very different use case to Harbour Air. As a pharmaceutical company enabling routine organ delivery missions, the helicopter has almost no payload but need the higher range, so hydrogen is an option. The challenge going forward is scaling that technology for larger carriers,” said Armesmith.
She also referenced MagniX’s project with NASA to hybridise a De Havilland Canada Dash 7. “We’re replacing two of its four thermal engines with electric motors, to achieve a 40% reduction in fuel burn, without compromising passenger load.”
Active development programme
Looking forward Armesmith says the priority is to make the technology as safe and efficient as possible. “We want to demonstrate to the market that we’ve developed the highest energy density battery in the world — but that’s only the beginning. We have an active development programme aimed at pushing those limits even further to meet growing demand.”
