The advancement of Airbus' E-Fan series speeds up the path toward eco-friendly aviation.

The E-Fan is introducing more-electric propulsion to the aviation sector. Created under a European program led by Airbus, the E-Fan's groundbreaking initial version was specifically engineered for electric power. This represents a significant milestone in Airbus's roadmap for electric aircraft and the future of electric and hybrid aviation.

In a subsequent phase, the E-Fan was upgraded to a "Plus" version featuring a hybrid setup for extended flight duration. The E-Fan Plus, which made its first appearance in the summer of 2016, includes an internal combustion engine as a range extender alongside the aircraft's on-board lithium-ion batteries.

The two propulsion system configurations, along with continuous innovation, emphasize the aircraft's function as a technology demonstrator, enabling the company to achieve significant progress on its electric aircraft roadmap.

Airbus's research and technology network spearheads a company-wide roadmap for electric aircraft. This strategy details a phased approach for the short-, medium-, and long-term development of electric planes by Airbus.

The E-Fan demonstrator marked an initial step towards our long-term objectives of possibly creating a hybrid-electric regional airliner or helicopter.

This product strategy is strongly backed by another element of the roadmap – the simultaneous development of ground and flying demonstrators to assess the feasibility and advantages of e-aircraft technology.

This initiative is spearheaded by Airbus’s E-Aircraft System House and encompasses research on a variety of groundbreaking technologies and programs, in addition to collaborative projects. The insights and expertise acquired will facilitate advancements across the company’s product line, including enhanced on-board electrical power to boost aircraft efficiency, decrease noise, and lower emissions.

Envision a short-range commercial aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel that releases no harmful gases into the Earth’s atmosphere. That’s the promise of fuel cells.

This innovative concept for electric propulsion is among several promising ideas that could significantly contribute to the aviation industry achieving its ambitious environmental goals.

"Fuel cells are a distant concept, but perhaps not too distant," explained Christian Wolff, Head of the Electrochemical Systems Team, within Airbus's research and technology network, which is spearheading the E-Fan program and the company's electric aircraft initiatives.

Fuel cells: How they work

In aviation, hydrogen/air fuel cells have the potential to generate electric power in the 15-MW range, which is essential for commercial aircraft jet engines.

Within these low-temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, hydrogen fuel is delivered to the anode. At the anode, an electrochemical reaction divides the hydrogen into negatively-charged electrons and positively-charged protons.

The electrons generate an electrical current that flows through a circuit, while the protons move through a material known as a proton exchange membrane (PEM), which prevents any electrons from passing through.

Researchers at Airbus are investigating the use of fuel cells that are directly integrated into the aircraft's electric engine.

In this setup, fuel cells are organized into several “stacks” positioned directly next to an electric engine. They are arranged around the inner fixed structure that surrounds the engine’s fan blades, along with magnets on the rotor and coils on the stator.

The groundbreaking concept is that the direct current produced by the fuel cells is sent straight to the motor coils, which in turn power the fan blades directly. This eliminates the need for heavy wiring, bus bars, converters, or batteries.

Fuel cells produce electrical current by transforming chemical energy into electrical energy. Unlike batteries, which have a limited energy supply, fuel cells can continuously supply energy as long as they receive fuel. The chemical reaction only produces water and heat as by-products.

On the opposite side of the cell's PEM is the cathode, where oxygen (from air) is introduced into the system. The protons, which pass through the PEM, and the electrons, which return from the electrical circuit, combine with the oxygen to produce the cell's two byproducts: water (H2O) and heat. In aircraft, airflow through the electric engines would cool the fuel cells.

"Delving deeper into fuel cells is crucial as we investigate technologies and concepts that could lead to a new era of electric aircraft. A breakthrough in aviation fuel cells could be transformative!" Christian Wolff, Head of the Electrochemical Systems Team at Airbus Innovations, said, "Fuel cells are part of the wide range of long-term concepts under consideration by the Group for electric and hybrid aircraft,” Wolff said. “We know the basic elements exist and are exploring how to optimize them for a new generation of more electric aircraft.”

Airbus Innovations and Airbus have created a demonstrator to assess integrated fuel cell applications in electric aircraft. The all-electric E-Fan is being used as a demonstrator aircraft by Airbus Innovations and its partners to test pioneering technologies for electric and hybrid aircraft. Since its launch, the E-Fan team has consistently worked on improving this innovative electric plane, achieving notable performance enhancements and acquiring expertise that could potentially be applied to other Airbus products.

On a calm, sunny summer morning at 11 a.m. on July 10, 2015, the Airbus Innovations E-Fan landed in Calais to make its mark in the record books.

The all-electric aircraft became the first twin-engine electric plane to independently take off and cross the English Channel, over a century after Louis Blériot's pioneering flight.

The Airbus all-electric E-Fan completed the 74 km journey from Lydd, England to Calais, France in approximately 37 minutes.

Traveling in the opposite direction of the pioneering Frenchman and powered by lithium-ion batteries, the E-Fan departed from Lydd on England's south coast, completing the 74-kilometer journey east to Calais, France, in approximately 37 minutes. Piloted by test pilot Didier Esteyne, the all-electric aircraft weighs about 600 kilograms and flew at an altitude of roughly 3,500 feet.

E-Fan’s test pilot and designer Didier Esteyne (left) and Airbus Chief Technical Officer Jean Botti celebrated the successful English Channel crossing.

Although the E-Fan had already completed over 100 flights before the cross-channel journey, preparations for this significant trip were thorough, involving a dedicated test and verification program organized by French flight authorities, Airbus, and its partners.

“That is something which may not have been necessary 100 years ago, when Blériot’s flight was just a race to be first. But today, following rules and obtaining certifications is of crucial importance for the future of safe, reliable, and certifiable electric flight,” explained Jean Botti, the former Airbus Chief Technical Officer who initiated the E-Fan program.

The 10th of July 2015 will now be among the notable days in aviation history, and I’m sure Blériot would be proud of this accomplishment.

Jean Botti, Former Airbus Chief Technical Officer

The path of 2 pioneers: E-Fan's cross-Channel journey could herald a new era of electric aviation, just like Louis Blériot's first Channel flight in 1909 helped launch the French aviation industry.

The pioneering spirit lives on

While the E-Fan’s successful journey demonstrated the future possibilities of electric flight, it was also an homage to Louis Blériot, one of the all-time greats of aviation.

In 1909, the English Channel had already been crossed by balloon, but just six years after the Wright brothers’ first flight, few people expected someone to make the trip by plane. Indeed, the Daily Mail newspaper offered a £1,000 prize to the first person to make the 37km flight.

Frenchman Louis Blériot was a pioneer in the early days of aviation.

A passionate inventor and engineer, Blériot believed his Blériot XI monoplane was up to the task. On the morning of 25 July, the Frenchman set out from Calais, flying at 70 km/h, 70 metres above the water.

Like so many others in the aviation industry, Louis Blériot has been a hero and inspiration to me, and it gives me great pride that I am able to honour his legacy with the first ever electric-powered Channel crossing

Didier Esteyne, E-Fan’s test pilot and designer.

Blériot overcame poor visibility and gusting winds to land close to Dover Castle. Almost overnight, he was a star, and his record-breaking aircraft became the first to enter mass production, launching the French aviation industry. His company was based in Suresnes, near Paris, at the same site where part of the E-Fan team is now located.

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