Since 2016 Airbus and Siemens have been working together on the development of hybrid-electric drive systems for the aviation sector. One of the pioneering aircraft that the partners are designing together is the four-seat CityAirbus. On the path to its maiden flight, which is scheduled for late this year, the aircraft has now reached an important milestone: The drive system that Siemens developed for the CityAirbus has been put into operation in a test on the ground.



Heart of the electric propulsion systems is the newly developed SP200D electric motor. It has been specially designed for this specific application. It has a torque density of 30 Nm/kg, which is practically a new record - a nominal torque of about 1,500 Nm is generated with a weight of less than 50 kg. In addition to 8 coupled motors Siemens supplies the inverters and the energy management system for the CityAirbus demonstrator.



This drive system was delivered in an extremely short period of time. Its development took just over nine months from the initial concept to the finished prototype.

