Airbus: Electric flying is no longer a thing of the future

It is not fully electric flying, but Siemens, Rolls Royce and Airbus are working on a hybrid aircraft engine. That is the first step towards flying on electricity.

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is working together with technology company Siemens and aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls Royce. The hybrid motor is built by Siemens and has a capacity of two megawatts, which is about half of what a conventional motor delivers. Rolls Royce makes a gas turbine that can be placed in the fuselage of an aircraft and generates power for the engine. Airbus takes care of the aircraft and the integration of the hybrid system.

To test the hybrid engine, the three companies are building the E-Fan X. This test aircraft has three 'ordinary' jet engines and one electrically powered engine. The first test flights will be made in 2020. The test aircraft must ultimately be powered by two hybrid engines and two jet engines.

Aircraft manufacturers want to invest in electric flying in order to contribute to global climate goals. The European Commission also wants the aviation sector to become greener. By 2050, aircraft CO2 emissions must have fallen by 75 percent, their nitrogen oxide emissions must have decreased by 90 percent and aircraft must be at least 65 percent quieter than they are now. These objectives can only be achieved if aircraft manufacturers develop new techniques.

Source: NOS.nl – Photo: Airbus