Wright Electric has achieved a 1-MW power output with the electric motor generator it is developing for future airliners. During this week’s Paris Airshow, the U.S. company also announced it has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to conduct altitude testing of the powertrain at the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT), starting in early 2024.
The testing will evaluate how the motors perform in high-altitude operations as thinner air can cause short-circuiting and electromagnetic interference. Wright designed its propulsion system to operate at 40,000 feet, and NASA's altitude chamber can replicate those conditions.
Wright’s primary objective is to develop a 2-MW electric motor for single-aisle airliners, and in 2021 it reached an agreement with low-cost carrier EasyJet to use one of its aircraft for flight trials. It hopes to place an electric powertrain in commercial service on an aircraft such as the Airbus A320 by 2030.
“Achieving one megawatt, specifically one megawatt of shaft power, is an important step in reaching Wright’s goal of making all single-aisle flights under 800 miles with zero emissions,” said Wright Electric founder Jeff Engler. “Commercial-class airplanes need megawatt-sized propulsion systems for a full passenger load takeoff.”
The company also continues to work on plans to convert BAe 146 regional jets to electric power. It has been modeling its propulsion system on the nacelle and fan of the out-of-production four-engined aircraft.
The Wright Electric technology could also be deployed as either a motor or a generator to allow it to be configured as a turbogenerator or APU for high-altitude power in commercial or defense applications. The company also has seen interest from prospective customers needing new propulsion systems for heavy-duty equipment and railways.