Collaborating on a major initiative, NASA, GE Aerospace, and Boeing are working together to develop and test hybrid-electric propulsion for commercial airliners. The primary objective is to create new technology that reduces the aviation industry’s reliance on jet fuel. Efficiency is enhanced by combining gas engines, electric motors, and batteries in the hybrid electric architecture. A test plane is set to be retrofitted with hybrid electric drives by NASA, GE, and Boeing in the mid-2020s.
Currently, batteries do not have the capacity to fully power large aircrafts. Nonetheless, hybrid electric technology allows for partial electrification, gradually increasing the use of electric motors to meet propulsion needs as technology advances. The carbon footprint of commercial aviation could be greatly reduced if more people embrace it, but there are still many advancements to be made.
Hybrid cars are gaining popularity, and now the same trend is happening in the sky. Developing a scalable and dependable hybrid technology for airplanes would reduce fuel consumption and contribute to a more eco-friendly transportation system.
