Hybrid-Electric prototype EcoPulse has concluded its flight test campaign.

The project is a joint venture between Daher, Safran and Airbus. The aim of the test flights was to deliver insights to meet the decarbonisation goals for air transport by 2050.

EcoPulse performed its first hybrid-electric test flight on November 29, 2023, from Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport. Since its maiden flight, the aircraft accumulated 100 flight hours and performed some 50 test flights with the distributed hybrid propulsion system, the last of which took place in July 2024. These tests enabled the demonstration of unprecedented onboard electric power levels for distributed electric propulsion, with a network voltage of approximately 800 volts DC and a power output of 350 kilowatts.

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The flight tests yielded significant findings, including an objective evaluation of hybridization technologies’ maturity, a performance assessment when integrated into the aircraft, and an identification of operational limitations.

For instance, the tests showed that the synchro-phasing of the ePropellers (electric motors) can reduce interior noise. This synchro-phasing is an additional benefit of the innovative flight control computer, primarily designed to maneuver the aircraft – substituting traditional control surfaces –by adjusting the distribution of electric power among the ePropellers.

“We are particularly pleased with the success of the EcoPulse program and its results. This was the first time we tested a complete hybrid-electric propulsion system in flight, and these trials represented a significant milestone in our technology roadmap,” said Eric Dalbiès, Senior Vice President – Strategy & Chief Technology Officer at Safran. “The lessons learned enable us to continue validating decarbonization technologies.”

“EcoPulse has enabled Daher to take a crucial step forward in developing a low-carbon aircraft. This project not only helped us design an operational system for a demonstration prototype but also tackle critical technological hurdles. Thanks to this rich and unprecedented collaboration, we have made significant progress toward hybridization,” emphasized Pascal Laguerre, Chief Technology Officer of Daher.