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NEWS

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens team up for

electric future Partnership launch E-Fan X

hybrid-electric flight demonstrator

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens have formed a partnership which aims at developing a near-term flight demonstrator which will be a significant step forward
in hybrid-electric propulsion for commercial aircraft.

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens the technology, performance, safety distribution system. This comes on
have formed a partnership which and reliability enabling quick progress top of the E-Aircraft Systems House
aims at developing a near-term flight on the hybrid electric technology. The collaboration between Airbus and
demonstrator which will be a significant programme also aims at establishing Siemens, launched in 2016, which
step forward in hybrid-electric the requirements for future certification aims at development and maturation
propulsion for commercial aircraft. of electrically powered aircraft while of various electric propulsion system
training a new generation of designers components and their terrestrial
The three companies together and engineers to bring hybrid-electric demonstraion across various power
announced the groundbreaking commercial aircraft one step closer to classes.
collaboration, bringing together some reality.
of the world’s foremost experts in Among the top challenges for today’s
electrical and propulsion technologies, As part of the E-Fan X programme, aviation sector is to move towards a
at the Royal Aeronautical Society in Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens will means of transport with improved
London. each contribute with their extensive environmental performance, that is
experience and know-how in their more efficient and less reliant on fossil
The E-Fan X hybrid-electric technology
demonstrator is anticipated to fly respective fields of expertise: fuels. The partners are committed to
in 2020 following a comprehensive Airbus will be responsible for overall meeting the EU technical environmental
ground test campaign, provisionally on integration as well as the control goals of the European Commission’s
a BAe 146 flying testbed, with one of architecture of the hybrid-electric Flightpath 2050 Vision for Aviation
the aircraft’s four gas turbine engines propulsion system and batteries, and its (reduction of CO2 by 75%, reduction
replaced by a two megawatt electric integration with flight controls. of NOx by 90% and noise reduction
by 65%). These cannot be achieved
motor. Provisions will be made to Rolls-Royce will be responsible for with the technologies existing today.
replace a second gas turbine with an the turbo-shaft engine, two megawatt 11
Therefore, Airbus, Rolls-Royce and
electric motor once system maturity generator, and power electronics. Along Siemens are investing in and focusing
has been proven.
with Airbus, Rolls-Royce will also work research work in different technology
The E-Fan X demonstrator will explore on the fan adaptation to the existing areas including electrification. Electric
the challenges of high-power propulsion nacelle and the Siemens electric motor. and hybrid-electric propulsion are seen
systems, such as thermal effects, electric Siemens will deliver the two megawatt today as among the most promising
thrust management, altitude and electric motors and their power technologies for addressing these | Global MDA Journal | NOV-DEC 2017
dynamic effects on electric systems and electronic control unit, as well as the challenges.
electromagnetic compatibility issues. inverter, DC/DC converter, and power www.airbus.com
The objective is to push and mature

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