Wright Advances Powertrain Tests For Planned All-Electric Narrowbody Airliner

Wright Electric aims to develop an all-electric airliner with capacity similar to that of 190-seat Airbus A320 twinjets and to have this ready to enter service by 2030.

Wright Electric motor — Wright Electric has conducted ground tests on its latest 2 MW electric motor, and is now assembling a complete powertrain, including inverters. (Image: Wright Electric)

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

September 7, 2021

Wright Electric has produced and started testing the two-MW electric motor it is developing for trials on a single-aisle airliner in partnership with low-cost carrier EasyJet. The U.S.-based company aims to begin ground testing by the end of 2021 and to flight test at altitudes of 40,000 feet in 2023. It hopes to have an electric powertrain in commercial service on an aircraft such as the Airbus A320 by 2030, following a full program launch in 2024.

The next phase of the project, which started in 2016, will see the motors integrated with an inverter that Wright has developed. The company will also conduct high-altitude chamber testing of the equipment to gather data for future aircraft certification work.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

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