Story ID: 
Safran Takes Step in Electric Propulsion Development
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The company revealed the first of a planned family of electric motors that could power electric or hybrid aircraft.
Word Count: 200
Eying the future of electric and hybrid-powered aircraft, Safran took the wraps off the first electric motor from what will be a range of engines in an ENGINeUS product line that will eventually provide power up to 500kW. Showcased during last week’s NBAA annual convention in Orlando, Florida, the first of that line, the ENGINeUS 45 is designed to provide a 45kW continuous power with built-in dedicated control electronics that provide an energy efficiency of more than 94 percent. The ENGINeUS 45 further provides a power-to-weight ratio of 2.5kW/kg at 2,500 rpm.

Testing of the motor is well under way, validated on Safran’s electrical integration benches, the company said. Four of the 45kW motors further have been tested on the ground on a full-distributed propulsion hybrid-electric system. 

"We are proud to present this cutting-edge equipment that boasts top-level aeronautical performance from an electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical perspective,” said Hervé Blanc, vice president and general manager of the electrical systems and motors division at Safran Electrical and Power. “With this range of engines, we are making a major strategic shift towards the development of VTOL and STOL aircraft, thus opening up promising new markets for Safran.”