GE Aerospace has successfully completed the inaugural ground test of its fully integrated, megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion system, a key component of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) initiative. This milestone represents a significant advancement in the development of novel propulsion solutions for future commercial aircraft.
The testing encompassed all critical components of the intended powertrain configuration. These included proprietary GE Aerospace electric motors/generators, power electronics, inverters, and control systems. Also integrated were Dowty propellers, Avio Aero gearboxes, a CT7 engine, BAE Systems battery systems, and a nacelle developed by Aurora Flight Sciences.
These trials took place at GE Aerospace’s facility in Peebles, Ohio. Engineering teams simulated various operational phases, such as taxiing, takeoff, climb, and cruise. According to the company, the system effectively validated the core functionality of the hybrid architecture: its capacity to simultaneously drive a propeller and recharge batteries.
GE Aerospace emphasizes that this marks the very first full ground-based test of the integrated propulsion system designed for the EPFD program. Previously, the company had showcased individual technological elements. In 2016, they demonstrated an electric propeller drive, and in 2022, a megawatt-class hybrid-electric system was tested under simulated high-altitude conditions at NASA’s Electric Aircraft Testbed.
The forthcoming phase of the project involves flight testing. As part of the EPFD, GE Aerospace is preparing a demonstrator aircraft, a Saab 340B equipped with CT7-9B turboprop engines. NASA selected GE Aerospace for participation in this program back in 2021, with the overarching goal of validating electrified aviation technologies at a scale approaching commercial viability.
Furthermore, the company highlights the new system’s versatility, noting its compatibility with diverse fuel types. This adaptability positions it as a foundation for future engine architectures, potentially including open-rotor concepts currently being explored under the RISE program.
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