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Zeusch Aviation and Dovetail Collaborate on Hybrid-Electric Beechcraft King Air Retrofit

Aviation and Aerospace

Business Honor - Zeusch Aviation & Dovetail Retrofit King Air Hybrid-Electric

Business Honor
12 July, 2025

Innovative hybrid-electric upgrade aims to reduce emissions and boost King Air efficiency.

Zeusch Aviation of the Netherlands and Dovetail Electric Aviation, a developer of advanced powertrains, have partnered to design a hybrid-electric version of the twin-turboprop Beechcraft King Air aircraft. The project will swap the King Air's conventional Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engines with electric motors and a battery setup from Dovetail. A turbogenerator will serve as a range extender to add to flight range.

The firms had reached an agreement during the Paris Air Show in June to initially investigate the commercial and technical viability of this hybrid system. Zeusch Aviation has a fleet of King Air B200 and C90A types that are utilized for private charters, medical evacuation, aerial mapping, and surveillance. The aircraft are presently equipped with varying types of the PT6 engine, with capacities between 550 and 1,050 shaft horsepower.

Dovetail’s electric powertrain, called DovePower, features a powerful 671kW electric motor. The company is still finalizing a supplier for the turbogenerator, aiming for an output between 600 and 900kW, and is in talks with a major manufacturer. While Dovetail has recently been working on adapting the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter to electric power, they anticipate high demand for the King Air hybrid because a large number of planes have been produced—approximately 7,000 units. They will probably be working on the King Air 200 and 300 series.

With the hybrid system, the King Air would fly approximately 215 to 270 nautical miles (400 to 500 km), taking a minimum of eight passengers. Dovetail is targeting the first test flight of the upgraded King Air within two years and anticipating certification in one to two years. This partnership represents a key step towards cleaner flying, merging electric power with conventional engines to lower emissions and increase efficiency on popular regional planes.