EcoPulse demonstrator configuration is revealed in preparation for upcoming flights

EcoPulse, the wing-mounted, hybrid-electric distributed propulsion aircraft demonstrator being jointly developed by France-based Daher (Paris), Safran (Paris) and Airbus (Toulouse), made its first public appearance at the 2023 Paris Air Show, revealing its final external configuration. After successfully passing successfully first ground tests, the demonstrator will perform its first flight with hybrid-electric propulsion later this year.

The EcoPulse is based on Daher’s TBM 900-series airplanes, which are built in series production with approximately 25% composite materials. This includes winglets, landing gear doors, wing-to-fuselage fairing, etc. — elements that Daher personnel confirmed are retained on the EcoPulse demonstrator aircraft. It should also be noted that on the EcoPulse, the TBM 900-series aircraft winglets have been enlarged, while still accommodating integration of the wings’ electric motor thrusters on the demonstrator.

The demonstrator, supported by the French Civil Aviation Research Council) (CORAC) and co-funded by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) through France Relance and NextGeneration EU, is reported to be one of the major collaborative projects in France in the field of aviation decarbonization. EcoPulse aims to evaluate the operational advantages of integrating hybrid-electric distributed propulsion, with specific emphasis on CO₂ emissions and noise level reduction. This disruptive propulsion architecture enables a single, independent electrical power source to provide power to several engines distributed throughout the aircraft. The demonstrator will also evaluate the overall energy efficiency of the onboard system, including high-voltage electrical propulsion with battery and turbogenerator, and control laws involved in such architecture.

So far, the demonstrator has amassed around 27 hours of flight time.

EcoPulse is equipped with six integrated electric thrusters or e-Propellers (supplied by Safran), distributed along the wings. Its propulsion system integrates two power sources: a turbogenerator, i.e, an electric generator driven by a gas turbine (supplied by Safran), and a battery pack (supplied by Airbus). At the heart of this architecture is a power distribution and rectifier unit, responsible for protecting the high-voltage network and for distributing the available electrical power, as well as high-voltage power harnesses (both provided by Safran).

Since the announcement of this collaboration between Daher, Airbus and Safran at the previous Paris Air Show in 2019, the demonstrator has successfully passed key milestones, leading to its maiden flight in 2022 with its conventional thermal engine (without electric system operational). The ground and flight tests conducted recently in 2023 validated its aerodynamics and systems configuration.

“Hybridization and electrification are key to the aerospace sector’s decarbonization journey,” Sabine Klauke, CTO at Airbus, says. “With EcoPulse, we learned a lot from developing the high-power battery pack entirely, from the monitoring system to the thermal runaway and short-circuit tests. Some of these key learnings are already applied in several of our demonstrators with the common ambition to lower emissions. We are now all eager to see this technology flying and continue to progress on our electrification roadmap.”

So far, the demonstrator has amassed around 27 hours of flight time with the electric propellers feathered. Flight tests of the hybrid-electric powertrain are due to begin later this summer. Daher’s CTO Pascal Laguerre says the company plans to “develop our future product roadmap [from this demonstrator project] and basically spec the hybrid aircraft we intend to produce by the end of our 5-year plan. We expect by the end of 2027 to be able to offer our first hybrid aircraft to the market.”