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“The future is electric” – after e-cars and e-bikes, we may soon by flying in e-planes.
Siemens researchers last week reported the development of an electric motor designed for use in aircraft with a takeoff weight of up to two tons. The company already offers electric powertrains for use in passenger and commercial electric vehicles, so the reach to aviation should not be a big step. Siemens has already worked together with Airbus and Diamond Aircraft on next-generation propulsion systems.
Previous attempts to electric aircraft propulsion systems have been held back by the problem of weight, or more precisely the power-to-weight ratio. With a weight of just 50 kg and an output of 260 kW (349 HP), the new Siemens electric motor claims a power-to-weight ratio of just over 5:1. In comparison, industrial electric motors, which were never optimized for weight, offer a ratio of less than 1:1 while electric motors for e-cars weigh in at about 2:1.
According to Siemens, the motor delivers this power at a speed of 2500 RPM, a typical speed for aircraft propellers, meaning that a reduction gearbox like those found on turboprops is not necessary, resulting in further weight savings.
Motors with this power output would typically propel light aircraft with four to six seats. Such aircraft today are typically powered by reciprocating engines from Lycoming or Continental with designs dating back to the 1950s. Siemens expects the first flight tests with the new electric motor to take place this year.
The next step, according to Siemens Corporate Technology, is to increase the output with the goal of equipping regional airliners with 50 to 100 passengers with hybrid-electric motors in the mid-term. The future of aviation may indeed be electric.