Engineering news
Airbus and Siemens are to increase the number of its engineers developing electric propulsion systems for aircraft and have broken ground on a new research centre at Airbus Germany’s headquarters in Ottobrunn.
Both companies said they were to make “significant” contributions to the project, including 200 engineers, who will develop prototype propulsion systems for short range aircraft with under 100 seats, helicopters and UAVs by 2020. The power classes of the propulsion systems will range from a few 100kW up to 10MW.
Hybrid-electric propulsion systems can significantly reduce fuel consumption of aircraft and reduce noise. European emissions targets aim for a 75% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to the values for the year 2000. The companies believe this cannot be achieved by conventional technologies.
Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, said: "Electric and electric-hybrid flight represent some of the biggest industrial challenges of our time, aiming at zero-emissions aviation. The progress we have achieved in this arena, together with our industrial and governmental partners, in only a few years is breath-taking, culminating in last year's channel crossing of our all-electric E-Fan aircraft."
"We believe that by 2030 passenger aircraft below 100 seats could be propelled by hybrid propulsion systems and we are determined to explore this possibility together with Siemens."
Airbus said it plans to accelerate the building of its planned E-Aircraft System House at its Ottobrunn / Taufkirchen site, south of Munich and extend its capabilities.
The companies will collaborate exclusively to develop the prototype short range aircraft hybrid systems, but will continue to work with current partners on smaller aircraft with fewer than 20 seats.
Siemens said it is “determined” to establish hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aircraft as a future business.
Joe Kaeser, chief executive of Siemens, said: "The aim of this unit is to cooperate with innovative partners in order to identify and invest in new trends and develop future-oriented business opportunities. These partners may include entrepreneurs from Siemens' own employee environment, external start-ups and newly founded and established companies."
Both companies and Austria's Diamond Aircraft first presented a hybrid aircraft in 2011. Since then, Siemens has been developing an electric engine for aircraft which supplies five times as much power while retaining the same weight.
Airbus Group also introduced its E-Fan electrically powered training aircraft in 2014.