Wright tests 2MW aviation-grade engine for electric passenger plane

Aerospace companies have been aspiring to go electric, but flying with engines powered by batteries is more challenging compared to on-road electric vehicles. Wright Electric, an American startup firm, has been working to make electric flight a reality.

Recently, the company started testing its 2-megawatt engine that could potentially power the first generation of large-scale electric passenger jets.

On-road electric vehicles have been a massive success, but they have a significant advantage over electric planes, i.e. they do not require enough lift to keep the vehicle in air.

On the contrary, electric planes have been limited by a critical problem of use of heavy batteries that are required to power the engine to fly a significant distance with commuters aboard. Use of such payload consequently makes the jet too heavy to fly in the first place.

The obvious solution to improve over this is engine efficiency.

Electric engines are generally lighter, simpler and more efficient than fuel-powered engines, but they must attain a certain degree of efficiency to fly.

Businesses like Wright and H3x are working on developing electric engines that can generate more power from the same amount of stored energy.

Wright founder, Jeff Engler believes that electrifying commercial passenger jets could massively help lower carbon footprint from the aerospace sector.

According to Mr. Engler, the company’s 2MW engine generates an equivalent of 2,700 HP (horsepower), at an efficiency of around 10kW per kilogram. This is the most powerful engine designed for the electric aerospace sector by a factor of 2, he added.

As of now, the 2MW engine is in lab testing phase at sea level. After passing these tests (which is expected by next year), Wright will run the engine in an altitude simulation chamber and then up at 40,000 feet for real.

Source Credit - https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/07/wright-tests-its-2-megawatt-electric-engines-for-passenger-planes/