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Press Release18 June 2013Joint press release by Siemens, EADS and Diamond AircraftLe Bourget
EADS, Siemens enter long-term research partnership and sign MoU with Diamond Aircraft on electric propulsion system
EADS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Enders, Siemens CEO Peter Löscher and Diamond Aircraft owner Christian Dries signed a MoU in Le Bourget to set the course for their future cooperation on electric aircraft development.
"Today, aviation goes electric as we embark on the journey towards future electric propulsion. Electric aircraft are a key element in our research for the future of aviation," EADS CEO Tom Enders said. "Only over the decades to come we will learn where the journey will take us, what shape and form electric propulsion will take. But we know we have no time to lose in terms of testing alternatives to fossil fuel. One thing is clear though: aviation will need to continue to fly with ever less fuel, less emissions and less noise. Working together on future propulsion systems is the best our industry can contribute to greener skies."
Total fuel costs will amount to a third of operating expenses of the airline industry this year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Air transport as a whole currently emits 2 percent of global carbon emissions and is set to increase to 3 percent by 2050, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
"Only with innovation we can solve the conundrum of rising fuel costs, rising passenger demand and rising environmental regulations. This makes the research partnership between EADS and Siemens so important," Peter Löscher, CEO of Siemens AG, said. "Innovations used in this hybrid plane will be instrumental in making transportation more sustainable in the long run, whether in the air, on land or at sea."
The research partnership aims to ultimately introduce hybrid drive systems for both helicopters and large airplanes, while the airworthiness certification of full-electric and hybrid aircraft in the General Aviation category is to be achieved within the next three to five years. Already today, Siemens generates sales in the upper three-digit million euros range from industrial software that is helping plane makers develop their products more quickly and efficiently, but also with state-of-the-art production technologies or infrastructure solutions for airports.
Siemens developed an integrated drive train for the second generation of the airplane DA36 E-Star 2. It consists of two main components: The electric drive and a generator, which is powered by a small Wankel engine. The hybrid motor glider made a successful 1-hour maiden flight at the Wiener Neustadt airfield in Vienna, Austria on June 1, 2013.
"The serial electric propulsion allows us to design airplanes with totally different characteristics than today. Vertical take-off and high-speed cruise can be realized in a much more efficient way. The DA36 E-Star 2 was the next step to prove this technology and through its positive results to continue further developments", Diamond Aircraft owner Christian Dries said in Le Bourget.
The new propulsion technology leads to drastically reduced noise emissions during take-off and will cut fuel consumption and overall emissions by about 25 percent compared to today's most efficient aircraft drivers. This first MoU between the three companies confirms the collaboration on the project which has existed since 2011.
Further information, video footage and press pictures are available at www.siemens.com/press/electricaircraft
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For this press release
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the fields of industry, energy and healthcare as well as providing infrastructure solutions, primarily for cities and metropolitan areas. For over 165 years, Siemens has stood for technological excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality. The company is the world's largest provider of environmental technologies. Around 40 percent of its total revenue stems from green products and solutions. In fiscal 2012, which ended on September 30, 2012, revenue from continuing operations totaled €78.5 billion and income from continuing operations €4.7 billion (incl. IAS 19R and reclassification of the solar business into continuing operations). At the end of September 2012, Siemens had around 370,000 employees worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at: http://www.siemens.com.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2012, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 56.5 billion and employed a workforce of over 140,000.
New Media Section on the EADS website! For information on EADS – photo, video, sound bites, background documents – visit www.eads.com/media.
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Diamond Aircraft Industries, based in Austria, is a worldwide operating composite aircraft manufacturer with offices in major centres across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company is dedicated to supplying the General Aviation market with the ultimate flying machines - safe, economical, inspiring aircraft. Diamond produces single and twin-engine propeller aircraft, a single-engine jet aircraft and multi-purpose platforms as all-in-one remote sensing solutions. Diamond builds the safest, most efficient aircraft flying today, from single and twin-engine propeller aircraft to all-in-one remote sensing platforms.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2012, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 56.5 billion and employed a workforce of over 140,000.
New Media Section on the EADS website! For information on EADS – photo, video, sound bites, background documents – visit www.eads.com/media.
Subscribe to our RSS Feed at www.eads.com/RSS.
Diamond Aircraft Industries, based in Austria, is a worldwide operating composite aircraft manufacturer with offices in major centres across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company is dedicated to supplying the General Aviation market with the ultimate flying machines - safe, economical, inspiring aircraft. Diamond produces single and twin-engine propeller aircraft, a single-engine jet aircraft and multi-purpose platforms as all-in-one remote sensing solutions. Diamond builds the safest, most efficient aircraft flying today, from single and twin-engine propeller aircraft to all-in-one remote sensing platforms.
Contact
Alexander Machowetz
Siemens AG
Wittelsbacherplatz 2
80333 Munich
Germany
80333 Munich
Germany
+49 (9131) 7-25562