EcoPulse, a hybrid electric aircraft engineered by Airbus, Safran, and Daher in a strategic partnership, has shown huge potential for eco-friendly air travel. After a series of flight tests, the demonstrator aircraft has reaffirmed the promise of hybrid-electric propulsion to offer cleaner, quieter, and more efficient flight.
The EcoPulse hybrid electric aircraft is based on Daher’s TBM 900 turboprop platform reconfigured to test distributed hybrid-electric propulsion. In contrast to conventional models featuring a large single engine, EcoPulse features multiple small electric motors integrated into its wings. It attempts to reduce fuel consumption and noise while enhancing sustainability.
EcoPulse completed a rigorous 50-flight test campaign and 100 airborne hours over an eight-month period starting in November 2023. The tests provided insights into the plane’s aerodynamics, noise reduction, and energy efficiency and established the primary benefits of its hybrid-electric technology.
Jean-Baptiste Manchette, head of Propulsion of Tomorrow at Airbus, emphasised the critical role of real-world testing. Christophe Robin, head of aircraft design at Daher, affirmed the importance of flight testing by stating, “real conditions never lie.”
The plane had been designed following more than five years of coordination between the three air majors. Safran spearheaded the design of the hybrid-electric propulsion system, installing six electric propellers on the wings. Daher carried out the flight tests. Meanwhile, Airbus supplied the cutting-edge flight control system and high-performance battery for the aircraft.
The most critical element of the EcoPulse hybrid electric aircraft is its battery system. The battery is designed to deliver an output of 350 kilowatts and aids propeller efficiency as well as overall performance.
Robin detailed the technical leap, noting that while traditional light aircraft use 28-volt systems and larger commercial aircraft operate on 115-volt AC, EcoPulse runs on an 800-volt DC system—“a completely different story,” as he stated.
