Flying electric is no longer a dream

Proven hybrid-electric propulsion systems from Siemens eAircraft pave the way for sustainable aviation and new mobility concepts 

At the 2017 Paris Air Show, Dr. Frank Anton, the physicist and pilot leading the development of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aviation at Siemens eAircraft, stated that he would fly from Nuremberg to Paris on a hybrid-electric regional jet in his lifetime.

Two years, later, thanks to digital twins and fast-iterative innovation, the news is good. Siemens has made serious technical advancements in this area by successfully developing and testing several hybrid-electric drive systems. One system is advanced enough that it could provide the power-to-weight ratio and manage the voltage required to fly regional hybrid-electric airplanes.

This is good news for the planet as well. With the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicting that passenger numbers could double to 8.2 billion by 2037, the global aviation community is under pressure to reduce the long-term negative impact of flying -- particularly CO2 and NOx emissions as well as noise pollution. 

“Using hybrid-electric propulsion and distributed propulsion, we will be able to reduce emissions, and reduce fuel burn, but also build aircraft with very low noise levels,” said Dr. Anton, Executive Vice President eAircraft at Siemens AG.