Hybrid and electric flight

Laying the groundwork for decarbonising aviation

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Powering the future of flight

REDEFINING PROPULSION

Electric and hybrid-electric propulsion is rapidly revolutionising mobility technologies across industries, from automotive and aerospace to rail and marine. At Airbus, our research into electrification aims to lay the groundwork for the future industry-wide adoption and regulatory acceptance of alternative means of propulsion for aircraft, helicopters and urban air vehicles.

Airbus Ecopulse demonstrator

On the path to lower-carbon flight

A range of technologies are required in order to meet the aviation industry's decarbonisation ambition. These include improving operations and infrastructure, deploying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and innovating through technology. 

Promising propulsion concepts are being further developed, such as hybrid powered aircraft or hydrogen fuel cells. It is a major challenge that the industry will answer collectively with engine manufacturers and other industries such as automotive. In November 2022, Airbus and Renault Group signed a research and development agreement which aims to leverage synergies to accelerate both companies’ electrification roadmaps. In June 2023, Airbus and STMicroelectronics signed an agreement to advance research on the next generation of semiconductors, which are a key enabler of the aerospace industry’s transition to hybrid and fully electric aircraft like the ZEROe demonstrator or the CityAirbus NextGen.

Airbus Fuel Cell Engine Hydrogen

Hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion

In a hybrid configuration, an aircraft uses several energy sources in flight, either in tandem or alternately. The mix of energy sources – jet fuel or sustainable aviation fuels combined with electricity – optimises overall energy efficiency and reduces fuel consumption.

Hybrid-electric propulsion leads to better energy management, reducing fuel consumption by up to 5% compared to a standard flight. 

The electricity can come from batteries or fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity. In November 2022, Airbus unveiled its hydrogen fuel cell-powered engine.

Our electric flight projects

CityAirbus NextGen

Safe, sustainable and integrated urban air mobility

This all-electric, four-seat multicopter demonstrator focuses on advancing remotely piloted vertical take-off and landing flight (eVTOLs).

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Image: CityAirbus NextGen

DisruptiveLab

A new flying laboratory

Disruptive Lab will evaluate a new aerodynamic rotorcraft architecture. It will also test hybridisation, with a fully parallel hybrid propulsion system that enables the battery to be recharged in-flight.

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Airbus' Disruptivelab

EcoPulse

A new approach to distributed propulsion for aircraft

EcoPulse is a distributed hybrid-propulsion aircraft demonstrator, developed in partnership with Daher and Safran with the support of France’s CORAC and DGAC.

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Airbus' EcoPulse Demonstrator First Flight
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Hybrid aircraft

A stepping stone to decarbonising aviation

Hybrid-electric propulsion is an incremental step that can improve the energy efficiency of every aircraft class.
 

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Latest in hybrid and electric flight

In the spotlight

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  • Airbus ZEROe - The world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft

    Airbus NOVA Newsletter

    Your go-to source for the latest stories on disruptive technologies and ground-breaking aerospace projects that will transform the way we fly.