Dark/Light Mode
(05/12/23)
 EcoPulse, a hybrid-electric distributed
propulsion aircraft demonstrator jointly developed by Daher,
Safran and Airbus, has performed its first flight test in
hybrid-electric mode.

EcoPulse took off from Tarbes Airport in France on
29 November for the test flight which lasted approximately 100
minutes.

During the flight, the crew engaged the electric
propellers and verified the proper functioning of the
demonstrator’s flight control computer, high-voltage battery pack,
distributed electric propulsion and hybrid electric turbogenerator.

EcoPulse’s first hybrid flight is the culmination
of several technical milestones, including extensive ground tests
and 10 hours of flight tests of the aircraft with the electrical
systems inactive.

EcoPulse recently performed its first flight test in hybrid-electric mode.

“We confirmed today that this disruptive
propulsion system works in flight, which paves the way for more
sustainable aviation,” said Eric Dalbiès, Safran’s Executive Vice
President Strategy and Chief Technology Officer. “The lessons
learned from upcoming flight tests will feed into our technology
roadmap and strengthen our position as leader in future
all-electric and hybrid-electric propulsive systems.”

Unveiled at the 2019 Paris Air Show, EcoPulse is
one of the major collaborative projects in Europe in the field of
aviation decarbonization. It is supported by CORAC (the French
Civil Aviation Research Council), and co-funded by DGAC (the
French Civil Aviation Authority) through France Relance (the
French government’s economy recovery plan) and NextGeneration EU.

The demonstrator aims to evaluate the operational advantages of
integrating hybrid-electric distributed propulsion, with specific
emphasis on CO2 emissions and noise level reduction. This
disruptive propulsion architecture enables a single independent
electrical source to power several engines distributed throughout
the aircraft.

Based on a Daher TBM aircraft platform, EcoPulse
is equipped with six integrated electric thrusters or e-Propellers
supplied by Safran, distributed along the wings. Its propulsion
system integrates two power sources: a turbogenerator, i.e. an
electric generator driven by a gas turbine supplied by Safran,
and a high-energy density battery pack supplied by Airbus.

At
the heart of this architecture is a Power Distribution and
Rectifier Unit (PDRU), responsible for protecting the high-voltage
network and for distributing the available electrical power, as
well as high-voltage power harnesses, both provided by Safran.

The battery pack designed by Airbus is rated at 800 Volts DC and
can deliver up to 350 kilowatts of power. The demonstrator also
benefits from the aerodynamic and acoustic integration expertise
of the European aircraft manufacturer, and Airbus also developed the
Flight Control Computer permitting aircraft maneuvers using the ePropellers, and synchrophasing to support future aircraft
acoustic recommendations.

“This is a major milestone for our industry and
we’re proud to have powered the EcoPulse demonstrator first flight
with our new battery systems,” said Sabine Klauke, Chief Technical
Officer at Airbus. High-energy density batteries will be necessary
to reduce carbon emissions from aviation, whether for light
aircraft, advanced air mobility or large hybrid-electric aircraft.
Projects like EcoPulse are key to accelerating progress in
electric and hybrid electric flight, and a cornerstone of our aim
to decarbonize the aerospace industry as a whole.”

The Ecopulse aircraft demonstrator will be
showcased during the Green Aero Days organized in Pau on
6 and 7 December 2023.

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