Electric Green Taxiing System For Passenger Aircraft

You ever think about the future of flight and what will happen when all the fuel runs out? It’s going to happen, that’s for sure but when exactly? I’m sure airline manufacturers are working on some sort of a solution but for the time being, they are making the engines as fuel-efficient as possible. If cars can be hybrid or electric, why can’t planes be as well? I did write about the Elektra One aircraft which is a zero-emission electric aircraft. Although the same technology can’t yet be applied to jumbo jets, there are companies that have “electric solutions” to reduce operational costs for airline companies as well as reducing emissions.

Companies, Safran and Honeywell, have been developing an electric green taxiing system (EGTS) which made its debut at the Paris Air Show a couple of weeks ago. Have you ever been unfortunate enough to sit close behind the engines on a passenger jet? If so, you will likely have experienced a hint of the fumes while you wait on the runway with the aircraft’s engines running. This is where the EGTS shines and was designed for. The system allows the aircraft to taxi on the runway without the use of the aircraft’s engines by using the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) generator to power motors in the main wheels.

Electric Green Taxiing System

YouTube player

Think of it as a hybrid system in cars which uses electric power for low speeds. The partnership was announced back in 2011 and the EGTS system has now logged over 3,000 hours and 100 miles of rolling tests on a modified Airbus A320 aircraft. Air France has also joined the program in order to assist in refining estimated fuel savings as well as reduction of emissions.

It is estimated that a single aisle aircraft can reduce carbon emissions by 75 percent and Nox emissions by 50 percent during taxiing. Each of the aircraft’s powered wheel is equipped with an electromechanical actuator, while system controllers give pilot total control of the aircraft’s speed, braking, and direction during taxiing manoeuvres. This system also helps in reducing the noise pollution.

There are a number of areas where airlines can see a reduction in costs. For starters, aircraft engines are optimized to run efficiently during flight, not on the ground where a disproportionate amount of fuel is burned. Short and medium range aircraft spent approximately 2.5 hours of its time on runways every day and the EGTS system could potentially save close to 600 kilograms of fuel during taxiing daily.

Airlines can also expect to save money on maintenance costs such as brakes. On a standard aircraft, the plane wants to move forward even if the aircraft engine is in idle mode. To counteract this forward motion, pilots have to constantly apply the brakes. With the EGTS, aircraft engines will be off until needed.

If all aircraft were equipped with such a system, wait times would also be reduced since aircraft would not have to rely on pushbacks by vehicles since they are capable of maneuvering in all directions on its own.

EGTS’s competitor, WheelTug, uses a similar system and they have over 570 orders reserved by 11 airlines. According to WheelTug, airlines can expect to see $700,000 per aircraft per year. Safran and Honeywell are expecting the EGTS system to go into service on new aircraft in 2016 and shortly followed by a retrofit option on existing aircraft.

This system is beneficial to airlines, air quality, and the savings might even be passed on to passengers. The EGTS system already has over 110 reservations and I’m sure more airlines will jump on board in due time. It may not be an all-electric jumbo jet but this electric green taxiing system seems like a pretty good place to start. I’m definitely interested to see what other technologies will be applied to the airline industry in the coming years.

[EGTS]

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON

in

Autos

Photo of author

eddie

Eddie is a writer covering men's lifestyle topics for Unfinished Man. With a business degree and passion for writing, he provides reviews on the latest cars, gadgets, and other interests for today's man. Eddie crafts entertaining and informative articles aimed at helping readers live their best lives.

Leave a Comment