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Feature18 June 2019,
updated18 June 2019Siemens AGMunich
Siemens and Rolls-Royce signed an agreement on June 18, 2019 at the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget (France) for the sale of Siemens' eAircraft unit. Closing is subject to the usual conditions and is expected to take place in late 2019.
Siemens sells electric aircraft-propulsion business to Rolls-Royce
Siemens and Rolls-Royce signed an agreement on June 18, 2019 at the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget (France) for the sale of Siemens' eAircraft unit. Closing is subject to the usual conditions and is expected to take place in late 2019.
Siemens eAircraft at the AERO Friedrichshafen 2019
Siemens eAircraft will be showcasing innovation in electric filght from April 10th to 13th 2019 at the AERO in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The AERO is the global show for General Aviation. At the AERO, the eAircraft team will be telling the story of "Powering New Flight Concepts". Prototypes of their electric propulsion systems especially developed for aviation are presented together with airframe manufacturers, who have partnered with siemens to power their innovative aircraft.
Statement concerning the accident on May 31st, 2018
At the Pécs Pogány airfield in Hungary on May 31, 2018, an accident happened to an experimental airplane Magnus eFusion featuring an electric propulsion unit of Siemens. According to the resolution of the Hungarian authorities released end of September, Siemens is not liable for the accident and our systems have worked without any failures during the flight. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those involved in the incident.
Maiden flight of serial hybrid-electric eFusion
On April 11, 2018, the world's first flying serial-hybrid aircraft landed its maiden flight at Matkópuszta airfield in Hungary, powered by a Siemens propulsion system. This hybrid Magnus eFusion is equipped with a Siemens SP55D electric motor and a FlyEco Diesel engine to allow for silent take-off and landing with an extended range. The complete propulsion system including a new generator, inverters and control systems has been developed by Siemens eAircraft and is expected to provide meaningful insights into the application of hybrid-electric systems for aircraft during future operation.
Highest power density inverter for electric aircraft
Siemens has developed a tiny inverter of highest power density for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. It took its first flight on a Magnus eFusion electric test plane. The Siemens inverter "SD104" uses silicon-carbide semiconductors and has a micro channel cooling plate. The power electronics fits in a box of 47mm*94mm*141mm and weighs only 900g while and delivers a maximum of 104kVA of propulsive power.
Press Pictures
Siemens develops propulsion system for the CityAirbus airtaxi
Heart of the electric propulsion systems is the newly developed SP200D electric motor. It has been specially designed for this specific application. It has a torque density of 30 Nm/kg, which is practically a new record - a nominal torque of about 1,500 Nm is generated with a weight of less than 50 kg.
Siemens develops propulsion system for the CityAirbus airtaxi
Heart of the electric propulsion systems is the newly developed SP200D electric motor. It has been specially designed for this specific application. It has a torque density of 30 Nm/kg, which is practically a new record - a nominal torque of about 1,500 Nm is generated with a weight of less than 50 kg.
Tiny inverter of highest power density
The new inverter for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft uses silicon-carbide semiconductors. The power electronics fits in a box of 47mm*94mm*141mm and weighs only 900g.
Highest power density inverter for electric aircraft
Siemens has developed a tiny inverter of highest power density for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. It took its first flight on a Magnus eFusion electric test plane.
Highest power density inverter for electric aircraft
Siemens has developed a tiny inverter of highest power density for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. It took its first flight on a Magnus eFusion electric test plane.
Siemens develops propulsion system for the CityAirbus airtaxi
Since 2016 Airbus and Siemens have been working together on the development of hybrid-electric drive systems for the aviation sector. One of the pioneering aircraft that the partners are designing together is the four-seat CityAirbus. On the path to its maiden flight, which is scheduled for late this year, the aircraft has now reached an important milestone: The drive system that Siemens developed for the CityAirbus has been put into operation in a test on the ground.
Heart of the electric propulsion systems is the newly developed SP200D electric motor. It has been specially designed for this specific application. It has a torque density of 30 Nm/kg, which is practically a new record - a nominal torque of about 1,500 Nm is generated with a weight of less than 50 kg. In addition to 8 coupled motors Siemens supplies the inverters and the energy management system for the CityAirbus demonstrator.
This drive system was delivered in an extremely short period of time. Its development took just over nine months from the initial concept to the finished prototype.
Heart of the electric propulsion systems is the newly developed SP200D electric motor. It has been specially designed for this specific application. It has a torque density of 30 Nm/kg, which is practically a new record - a nominal torque of about 1,500 Nm is generated with a weight of less than 50 kg. In addition to 8 coupled motors Siemens supplies the inverters and the energy management system for the CityAirbus demonstrator.
This drive system was delivered in an extremely short period of time. Its development took just over nine months from the initial concept to the finished prototype.
World-record electric motor for the first time at the international Paris Air Show
For the first time Siemens presented its' world-record electric motor for aircraft at the international Paris Air Show. The motor in the aerobatic plane Extra 330LE was demonstrated at the daily air show where the electric powered Extra took a glider up to the air. In addition to the 260 Kilowatts world-record electric motor, Siemens also presented two further propulsion systems of different power classes.
Further Information
World-record electric motor for aircraft sets new records
Siemens has developed a new type of electric motor that, with a weight of just 50 kilograms, delivers a continuous output of about 260 kilowatts – five times more than comparable drive systems. On Thursday, March 23, 2017, the Extra 330LE aerobatic plane, powered by the propulsion system from Siemens, set two new speed records. At the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield in Germany, the electric aircraft reached a top speed of around 340 kilometers per hour (km/h) over a distance of three kilometers. On Friday, March 24, 2017, the Extra 330LE gave another premiere performance by becoming the world's first electric aircraft to tow a glider into the sky. The nearly silent aerotow piloted by Walter Extra took a type LS8-neo glider up to a height of 600 meters in only 76 seconds. Siemens is contributing this technology to the cooperative project that Siemens and Airbus agreed to in April 2016 for driving the development of electrically powered flight. Electric drives are scalable, and Siemens and Airbus will be using the record-setting motor as a basis for developing regional airliners powered by hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Siemens is determined to establish hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aircraft as a future area of business.
Press Pictures
World's first aerotow with an electric plane
Friday, March 24, 2017 at the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield in Germany: the Extra 330LE powered by the record-propulsion system from Siemens became the world's first electric aircraft to tow a glider into the sky. The nearly silent aerotow piloted by Walter Extra took a type LS8-neo glider up to a height of 600 meters in only 76 seconds.
World's first aerotow with an electric plane
Friday, March 24, 2017 at the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield in Germany: the Extra 330LE powered by the record-propulsion system from Siemens became the world's first electric aircraft to tow a glider into the sky. The nearly silent aerotow piloted by Walter Extra took a type LS8-neo glider up to a height of 600 meters in only 76 seconds.
World's first aerotow with an electric plane
Friday, March 24, 2017 at the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield in Germany: the Extra 330LE powered by the record-propulsion system from Siemens became the world's first electric aircraft to tow a glider into the sky. The nearly silent aerotow piloted by Walter Extra took a type LS8-neo glider up to a height of 600 meters in only 76 seconds.
World's first aerotow with an electric plane
Towing rope released: The nearly silent aerotow piloted by Walter Extra took a type LS8-neo glider up to a height of 600 meters in only 76 seconds.
New propulsion system from Siemens enables new speed record
The lightweight electric motor from Siemens holds a world record for power-to-weight ratio: weighing just 50 kilograms, it supplies a constant electric output of 260 kilowatts, which is five times more than comparable propulsion systems. At the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield in Germany, the Extra 330LE aerobatic plane, powered by the new Siemens motor reached a top speed of around 340 kilometers per hour – new world record.
Extra 330LE electric plane sets new speed world record
On Thursday, March 23, 2017, the Extra 330LE aerobatic plane, powered by a propulsion system from Siemens, set a new speed record. At the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield in Germany, the electric aircraft reached a top speed of around 337.50 kilometers per hour (km/h) over a distance of three kilometers. The speed achieved by pilot Walter Extra was 13.48 km/h faster than the previous record, which had been set by U.S. pilot William M. Yates in 2013.
Another entry for the record books
Frank Anton (right), who heads eAircraft within the next47 startup unit, congratulates pilot Walter Extra, who broke the world record in ascent on November 25.
Another entry for the record books
Walter Extra broke the previous record – set by the American pilot William M. Yates in 2013 – by one minute and 10 seconds.
Maiden flight with a record-setting motor
For the first time ever, a plane in the certification category CS23 flies with Permit-to-Fly purely electric. The plane is powered by a 260 kilowatt Siemens motor that weighs a mere 50 kilogramm – a record-setting power-to-weight ratio.
Easy-to-integrate components
Thanks to its tube-cage construction, the Extra 330LE's key components, such as the motor, inverter and batteries, can be easily and flexibly installed.
Successful collaboration
The battery-powered Extra 330LE aerobatic plane was developed in a collaborative effort between Siemens and Extra Aircraft.
Pictured are Walter Extra (left), Extra Aircraft's founder, and Frank Anton, head of eAircraft at Siemens Corporate Technology.
Pictured are Walter Extra (left), Extra Aircraft's founder, and Frank Anton, head of eAircraft at Siemens Corporate Technology.
Propulsion system check
Shortly before the plane's maiden flight, Siemens' eAircraft project manager ran a final check of its propulsion system.
Maiden flight with a record-setting motor
For the first time ever, a plane in the certification category CS23 flies with Permit-to-Fly purely electric. The plane is powered by a 260 kilowatt Siemens motor that weighs a mere 50 kilogramm – a record-setting power-to-weight ratio.
Maiden flight with a record-setting motor
For the first time ever, a plane in the certification category CS23 flies with Permit-to-Fly purely electric. The plane is powered by a 260 kilowatt Siemens motor that weighs a mere 50 kilogramm – a record-setting power-to-weight ratio.
Maiden flight with a record-setting motor
For the first time ever, a plane in the certification category CS23 flies with Permit-to-Fly purely electric. The plane is powered by a 260 kilowatt Siemens motor that weighs a mere 50 kilogramm – a record-setting power-to-weight ratio.
Maiden flight with a record-setting motor
For the first time ever, a plane in the certification category CS23 flies with Permit-to-Fly purely electric. The plane is powered by a 260 kilowatt Siemens motor that weighs a mere 50 kilogramm – a record-setting power-to-weight ratio.
Videos
Electric aircraft: World-record electric motor makes first flight
Siemens researchers have developed a new type of electric motor that, with a weight of just 50 kilograms, delivers a continuous output of about 260 kilowatts - five times more than comparable drive systems. This record-setting propulsion system successfully completed its first public flight today at Schwarze Heide Airport near Dinslaken, Germany, where it - almost silently - powered an Extra 330LE aerobatic airplane. The new drive system had already made its maiden flight on June 24th 2016. This advance means that hybrid-electric aircraft with four or more seats will now be possible.
Further Information
Development
The motor has been specially designed for use in aircraft. Thanks to its record-setting power-to-weight ratio, larger aircraft with takeoff weights of up to two tons will now be able to use electric drives for the first time. To implement the world-record motor, Siemens' experts scrutinized all the components of previous motors and optimized them up to their technical limits. New simulation techniques and sophisticated lightweight construction enabled the drive system to achieve a unique weight-to-performance ratio of five kilowatts (kW) per kilogram (kg). The electric motors of comparable strength that are used in industrial applications deliver less than one kW per kg. The performance of the drive systems used in electric vehicles is about two kW per kg. Since the new motor delivers its record-setting performance at rotational speeds of just 2,500 revolutions per minute, it can drive propellers directly, without the use of a transmission.
Press Pictures
Siemens develops propulsion system for the CityAirbus airtaxi
Heart of the electric propulsion systems is the newly developed SP200D electric motor. It has been specially designed for this specific application. It has a torque density of 30 Nm/kg, which is practically a new record - a nominal torque of about 1,500 Nm is generated with a weight of less than 50 kg.
Siemens develops propulsion system for the CityAirbus airtaxi
Heart of the electric propulsion systems is the newly developed SP200D electric motor. It has been specially designed for this specific application. It has a torque density of 30 Nm/kg, which is practically a new record - a nominal torque of about 1,500 Nm is generated with a weight of less than 50 kg.
Tiny inverter of highest power density
The new inverter for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft uses silicon-carbide semiconductors. The power electronics fits in a box of 47mm*94mm*141mm and weighs only 900g.
Highest power density inverter for electric aircraft
Siemens has developed a tiny inverter of highest power density for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. It took its first flight on a Magnus eFusion electric test plane.
Highest power density inverter for electric aircraft
Siemens has developed a tiny inverter of highest power density for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. It took its first flight on a Magnus eFusion electric test plane.
Digital Slimming Diet
To slim down the end shield, Siemens developed a special optimization algorithm and integrated it into the Siemens CAE-Program NX Nastran.
Low Weight, High Power
New simulation techniques and sophisticated lightweight construction enabled the drive system to achieve a unique weight-to-performance ratio of five kilowatts (kW) per kilogram (kg). The electric motors of comparable strength that are used in industrial applications deliver less than one kW per kg.
Larger electrically powered aircraft a real possibility
Since the new motor delivers its record-setting performance at rotational speeds of just 2,500 revolutions per minute, it can drive propellers directly, without the use of a transmission. "This innovation will make it possible to build series hybrid-electric aircraft with four or more seats," said Frank Anton, Head of eAircraft at Siemens Corporate Technology, the company's central research unit.
Technical milestone: five times more powerful than comparable motors
Thanks to its record-setting power-to-weight ratio, larger aircraft with takeoff weights of up to two tons will now be able to use electric drives for the first time.
World-record electric motor for aircraft
Siemens researchers have developed a new type of electric motor that, with a weight of just 50 kilograms, delivers a continuous output of about 260 kilowatts – five times more than comparable drive systems. The motor has been specially designed for use in aircraft.
Optimized up to technical limit
To implement the world-record motor, Siemens' experts scrutinized all the components of previous motors and optimized them up to their technical limits. New simulation techniques and sophisticated lightweight construction enabled the drive system to achieve a unique weight-to-performance ratio of five kilowatts (kW) per kilogram (kg).
Unique Weight-to-Performance Ratio
Five kilowatts (kW) per kilogram (kg) – The electric motors of comparable strength that are used in industrial applications deliver less than one kW per kg. The performance of the drive systems used in electric vehicles is not much better either. The new type of electric motor delivers a continuous output of about 260 kilowatts.
Dry Run on the Test Rig
Currently the record motor is being tested on a test rig. The motor has been specially designed for use in aircraft. Thanks to its record-setting power-to-weight ratio, larger aircraft with takeoff weights of up to two tons will now be able to use electric drives for the first time.
Dry Run on the Test Rig
Currently the record motor is being tested on a test rig. The motor has been specially designed for use in aircraft. Thanks to its record-setting power-to-weight ratio, larger aircraft with takeoff weights of up to two tons will now be able to use electric drives for the first time.
Powerful Ultralight Motor for Electrically Powered Flight
Siemens has developed an exceptional electric motor that combines high power with minimal weight. Systematic enhancement of all the components has resulted in a new drive system that sets a world record for power/weight ratio in its class. This development marks a major step toward the everyday use of electrically powered aircraft and helicopters.
Powerful Ultralight Motor for Electrically Powered Flight
Siemens has developed an exceptional electric motor that combines high power with minimal weight. Systematic enhancement of all the components has resulted in a new drive system that sets a world record for power/weight ratio in its class. This development marks a major step toward the everyday use of electrically powered aircraft and helicopters.