Monday 4 December 2017
Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Siemens have teamed up to develop a hybrid electric aircraft for take-off in 2020.
The E-Fan X hybrid-electric technology demonstrator aims to push and mature the technology, performance, safety and reliability, enabling quick progress on the hybrid electric technology.
The programme also hopes to establish the requirements for future certification of electrically powered aircraft while training a new generation of designers and engineers.
Airbus will be responsible for the control architecture of the propulsion system and batteries and its integration with flight controls.
Rolls-Royce will provide a 2MW generator and power electronics while Siemens will deliver the 2MW electric motor.
Paul Erkemenko, Chief Technology Officer at Airbus said in a joint statement: “The E-Fan X is an important next step in our goal of making electric flight a reality in the foreseeable future.
“We see hybrid-electric propulsion as a compelling technology for the future of aviation.”