JetBlue invests in battery developer for electric aircraft

The world is moving towards more electrified-forms of travel, a shift that is not lost on JetBlue Technology Ventures. The venture capital arm of JetBlue Airways counts among its investments an electric air taxi startup, hydrogen fuel cell developer, and, now, a battery developer that could power the whole ecosystem. JetBlue Technology Ventures participated in a $13m fund raising round by Electric Power Systems. The company develops battery systems for primarily for the new propulsion systems needed for electric aircraft but also for other transportation applications, including for cars, trucks, and boats. The scalability of those batteries will ultimately determine the success of all of the electric air taxis or aircraft being pitched in the market because, without batteries, electric aviation would be stuck on the ground. “The electrification of aviation will grow in importance as a method for reducing the carbon footprint of the industry as a whole,” said Amy Burr, the president of JetBlue Technology Ventures. Electric Power Systems “will play a key role in the development of electric aircraft.” <br/>