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Feature28 November 2017,
updated29 November 2017Siemens AGMunich
Siemens, Airbus and Rolls-Royce team up for electric future of flight
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. The E-Fan X hybrid-electric technology demonstrator is anticipated to fly in 2020 following a comprehensive ground test campaign, provisionally on a BAe 146 flying tested, with one of the aircraft's four gas turbine engines replaced by a two megawatt electric motor from Siemens. The E-Fan X demonstrator will explore the challenges of high-power propulsion systems and push and mature the technology. This partnership will enhance the existing collaboration between Airbus and Siemens, which has been in place since 2016 and is aiming at the development of drive systems across various power classes for hybrid-electric flight.
Event Pictures: Major joint project towards the electrification of aviation
Siemens, Airbus and Rolls-Royce team up for electric future: Frank Anton, head of Siemens eAircraft, Mark Cousin, Airbus Head of demonstrators and Paul Stein, Rolls-Royce CTO
Siemens, Airbus and Rolls-Royce team up for electric future: Frank Anton, head of Siemens eAircraft, Mark Cousin, Airbus Head of demonstrators and Paul Stein, Rolls-Royce CTO
Infographics
E-Fan X
In the E-Fan X, the electric propulsion system obtains its power from a generator that is powered by a turbine in the fuselage. Take-off and climbing will be supported by lithium-ion batteries, each of which will have 700-kilowatts of power. As a flying testbed serves a BAe 146 regional plane with one of the aircraft's four gas turbine engines replaced by a two megawatt electric motor from Siemens. The maiden flight is expected in 2020.
Siemens and Airbus sign long-term cooperation agreement in the field of Hybrid Electric Propulsion systems
Siemens and Airbus have signed a collaboration agreement in the field of hybrid electric propulsion. In doing so, they have launched a major joint project towards the electrification of aviation with the goal of demonstrating the technical feasibility of various hybrid/electric propulsion systems by 2020. Both companies will be making significant contributions into the project and have sourced a team of around 200 employees to advance European leadership in innovation and the development of electrically powered aircraft.
Event Pictures: On the runway - Siemens is working with Airbus to develop propulsion systems for electric flight
Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser (left) and Airbus CEO Tom Enders have signed a cooperation agreement near Munich/Germany on April 7. The agreement lays out the goal of demonstrating the technical feasibility of different kinds of hybrid-electric propulsion systems by the year 2020.
Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser (left) and Airbus CEO Tom Enders have signed a cooperation agreement near Munich/Germany on April 7. The agreement lays out the goal of demonstrating the technical feasibility of different kinds of hybrid-electric propulsion systems by the year 2020.
Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser and Airbus CEO Tom Enders have signed a cooperation agreement near Munich/Germany on April 7. The agreement lays out the goal of demonstrating the technical feasibility of different kinds of hybrid-electric propulsion systems by the year 2020.
From left to right: Bernhard Gerwert, former CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, Thomas Loderer, First Mayor Ottobrunn, Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens, Ilse Aigner, Deputy Minister-President of Bavaria, Ulrich Sander, First Mayor Taufkirchen, Tom Enders, CEO Airbus Group, Enrico Goder, foreman, Thomas Müller, Chairman of the Board of Administration Ludwig Bölkow Campus GmbH, Arno Klare, MdB, Brigitte Zypries, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Markus Blume, MdL, Kerstin Schreyer-Stäblein, MdL, Jean Botti, former Chief Technical Officer Airbus Group and guest of honour, Andrew Anderson, Deputy Chief Technical Officer Airbus Group, at the ground-breaking of the E-Aircraft Systemhouse at the Airbus Group site in Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen.
Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser (left) and Airbus CEO Tom Enders (right) have signed a cooperation agreement near Munich/Germany on April 7. The agreement lays out the goal of demonstrating the technical feasibility of different kinds of hybrid-electric propulsion systems by the year 2020. The cooperation is also being supported by the German politics: Brigitte Zypries, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, where she coordinates Germany's aviation and space policies and Ilse Aigner, Deputy Minister-President of Bavaria and Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs.