Hybrid electric aircraft
A hybrid electric aircraft is an
History
The Boeing Truss-Braced Wing subsonic concept was planned with hybrid electric propulsion.[1] The
2011
Nasa sponsored a
2014
Faradair Aerospace launches a Triple Box-wing hybrid electric aircraft concept Called the BEHA (Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft) as one of the world's first regional aircraft specifically designed for hybrid electric regional flight. The UK start-up has continued development from the initial concept to the latest BEHA M1H variant, with future opportunity for unmanned and all electric variants. The E-STOL BEHA has gained support from key members of the UK Government and the airframe development has been conducted at Swansea University.[5]
2017
On 28 November 2017,
2018
The 1,300-shp
Industry experts expects a 50+ seat hybrid-electric airliner to debut in commercial operation by 2032 for routes like London-Paris.[10]
By November of 2018, Zunum Aero offices have been closed and all 70 staff members laid off as the programme comes to an end.
The
The Panthera drivetrain will be divided in modules:
Ground and flight tests should follow those of the Panthera a couple of months later.[11]
Along their
Austrian company ScaleWings, developer of a P-51 Mustang scale replica, has developed a hybrid and redundant piston/electric engine, based on independent modules: a 1.15 L (70 cu in) four-stroke V-twin producing 80 and 120 hp (60 and 89 kW) when turbocharged, and electric motors, producing 170 to 350 hp (130 to 260 kW) combined.[12]
On 31 October 2018,
2019
By January 2019, U.S. startup
By March 2019,
Faradair Aerospace launched its 18 seat BEHA M1H during Revolution.aero in March, London, with turboprop hybrid propulsion and 'quick change' passenger/cargo capability, targeting the CS23/Part23 commuter category regulations. The E-STOL aircraft capable of operation on runways of less than 300m with 5 tonne payload from its unique Triple box-wing configuration and quiet ducted fan pusher configuration.[20]
At the June 2019
A mid-May 2019 survey for UBS shows 38% of Americans and Germans said they would be likely to fly in a hybrid-electric airplane, rising to more than 50% for 18–44-year-olds.[21] UBS thinks hybrid aircraft for up to nine passengers over short routes below 250 nmi (460 km) could be available from 2022, and 2028 for regional airliners up to 1 h routes.[21] UBS forecast a market for 16,000 hybrid-electric airplanes and $178–192 billion over 2028–2040, mostly in
Led by
Electric EEL developer Ampaire and aircraft modification specialist Ikhana Aircraft Services study a 19 seat, diesel-electric hybrid de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter.[23] It could use Ikhana's STC for an increased MTOW from 5,443 to 6,350 kg (12,000 to 14,000 lb), the study is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.[23]
2020
Supported by Bavarian funding, the German DLR is modifying one of its two Do 228 into a hybrid-electric demonstrator.[24] The first fully electric flight is planned for 2020 and the first hybrid-electric flight for 2021, apparently from
In April of 2020, the E-FanX programme supported by Rolls-Royce plc, Airbus and Siemens is cancelled. [25]
By July 2020, Faradair Aerospace announces relocation to Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire, UK in partnership with the Imperial War Museum Duxford and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, to develop the BEHA M1H prototype hybrid electric regional aircraft from a new bespoke prototyping facility as part of the new Duxford Avtech aerospace research and development campus. First flight is targeted for late 2023/early 2024.[26]
In November 2020, Embraer had a new design for a regional airliner avoiding an hybrid-electric drivetrain, as operating costs would increase by 15% for 5% of the required power compared to conventional turboprop.[27]
2021
The Berlin-Brandenburg Aerospace Alliance is a business cluster that includes Rolls-Royce Dahlewitz, MTU Aero Engines, aeronautical engineering specialist APUS and Stemme.[24] It plans the IBEFA-i6 project, a 19-seat
Separate from this i-6, the APUS i-5 will be a
2022
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/C337G_Taxing_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-C337G_Taxing_%28cropped%29.jpg)
In 2019, the National Research Council Canada started to convert a Cessna Skymaster, a push-pull configuration, the Hybrid Electric Aircraft Testbed.[29] It first flew on 7 February 2022.[30][31][32]
2023
On 19 January 2023, ZeroAvia flew its Dornier 228 testbed with one turboprop replaced by a prototype hydrogen-electric powertrain in the cabin, consisting of two fuel cells and a lithium-ion battery for peak power.[33] The aim is to have a certifiable system by 2025 to power airframes carrying up to 19 passengers over 300 nmi (560 km).[33]
See also
References
- ^ "Boeing Feature Story: Envisioning tomorrow's aircraft". Boeing. 2010-08-16. Archived from the original on 2013-09-06.
- ^ a b Glenn Pew (June 23, 2011). "Hybrid Powered Aircraft In Paris". AvWeb.
- ^ "Green Flight Challenge". NASA.
- ^ "The EcoEagle". NASA.
- ^ "Bio-Fuel Powered Electric Triplane Launches On Kickstarter". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
- ^ Graham Warwick (Apr 5, 2017). "Boeing, JetBlue Back Hybrid-Electric Regional Startup". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Stephen Trimble (Oct 5, 2017). "Zunum launches hybrid-electric aircraft for regional market". Flightglobal.
- ^ "Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens team up for electric future" (PDF) (Press release). Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Siemens. 28 Nov 2017. (Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Siemens)
- ^ Guy Norris (May 23, 2018). "GE's Catalyst Could Lead Way To Hybrid-Electric Power". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Michael Bruno (Aug 24, 2018). "Aerospace Sector Could See Overhaul From Electric Propulsion". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Graham Warwick (Aug 7, 2018). "European Project To Benchmark Hybrid-Electric Propulsion". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Graham Warwick (Oct 17, 2018). "ScaleWings Unveils Multi-redundant Hybrid Aircraft Engine". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ a b c d e Graham Warwick (Oct 25, 2018). "E-Fan Experience Spawns French Hybrid-Electric Startup". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ a b Graham Warwick (Nov 12, 2018). "The Week in Technology, Nov. 12-19, 2018". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ a b Graham Warwick (Jan 14, 2019). "The Week In Technology, Jan. 14-18, 2019". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ "Hybrid Electric Plane Test Flights Planned on Maui". Maui Now. April 1, 2019.
- ^ "Ampaire Announces First Public Electric Flight" (Press release). Ampaire. June 6, 2019. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Guy Norris and Thierry Dubois (Jun 24, 2019). "Sustainable Aviation And Electrics Top Paris Air Show Agenda". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ a b c d e f Graham Warwick (Mar 26, 2019). "UTC's Dash 8 Hybrid-Electric X-Plane Targets Commercial Market". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ "Faradair announces hybrid electric commercial flight capability from 2025 | Airframer". www.airframer.com. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
- ^ a b c "Climate Concerns Could Reignite Commercial Aerospace, Or Burn It". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Jun 26, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Graham Warwick (Oct 10, 2019). "Island-Hopping Flights Show Promise As Market For Electrified Aircraft". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ a b Jon Hemmerdinger (23 Oct 2019). "Ampaire and Ikhana work toward hybrid-electric-powered Twin Otter". Flightglobal.
- ^ a b c d e Graham Warwick (Aug 27, 2019). "The Week In Technology, August 26-30, 2019". Aviation Week & Space Technology.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Excell, Jon (2020-04-27). "Rolls-Royce and Airbus cancel E-Fan X project". The Engineer. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
- ^ Thisdell2020-07-31T11:14:00+01:00, Dan. "Duxford holds keys to unlock funding for Faradair's hybrid-electric workhorse". Flight Global. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Dominic Perry (26 November 2020). "Embraer solicits partners for potential turboprop but rules out alternative powertrain". Flight Global.
- ^ a b c Graham Warwick (Nov 11, 2019). "The Week In Technology, Nov. 11-14, 2019". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
Rolls Leads German Hybrid-electric Demonstrator
- ^ National Research Council Canada (May 28, 2021). "Battling the headwinds of climate change with electric aviation".
- ^ NRC (April 4, 2022). "NRC supports the fight against climate change with hybrid-electric Cessna" (Press release) – via skiesmag.
- ^ "Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Test-bed (HEAT) – at the National Research Council". EnviroTREC. Apr 22, 2022.
- ^ "NRC Flies Hybrid-Electric Cessna Skymaster". Vertical Flight Society. 1 May 2022.
- ^ a b "ZeroAvia Makes Aviation History, Flying World's Largest Aircraft Powered with a Hydrogen-Electric Engine" (Press release). ZeroAvia. January 19, 2023.
Further reading
- Bjorn Fehrm (June 14, 2019). "Bjorn's Corner: Why hybrid cars work and hybrid airliners have challenges". Leeham News.
- "Hybrid airliners could come to dominate the skies". The Economist. Jun 29, 2019.