Sustainability and Environment
Electric Drives Could Cut Carbon From Airliner Taxiing
UK's Project Sonata is working towards a demonstration
Fly Dubai airliner
New electric powertrains could reduce carbon emissions from airliner ground movements at airports. © AIN/David McIntosh

Airbus is working with powertrain specialist Drive System Design (DSD) on new efforts to decarbonize aircraft taxiing operations using electric propulsion to partly replace the main engines. The Project Sonata work is supported by the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute and is targeting a 47% reduction in emissions for airport ground movements.

According to Steven Simmonds, DSD’s chief engineer of systems programs, new electrified ground drives could be introduced as well as changes to how engines are currently used for taxiing. “If you can avoid using the engines on the ground it can make a big difference, and also displaces [carbon dioxide] emissions at airports which improves air quality,” he told AIN.