As Airbus presses ahead with plans to bring a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2024-02-21/airbus-forges-ahead-sustainability-goals">hydrogen-powered commercial airliner </a>into service by 2035, the European airframer is eyeing superconductors as a potential enabling technology for the high-power, zero-emissions aircraft.&nbsp;
Airbus UpNext, an Airbus subsidiary dedicated to future flight technologies, has partnered with Toshiba to collaborate on the development of a superconducting electric motor for future hydrogen-powered aircraft. Under an agreement signed at the Japan Aerospace Exhibition in Tokyo last week, the partners pledged to build and test a 2-megawatt superconducting electric motor.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Earlier this year, Airbus launched a technology demonstration program called Cryprop, which aims to use liquid hydrogen to simultaneously fuel and cool a 2-megawatt superconducting electric propulsion system. Liquid hydrogen will cool the propulsion system via a helium recirculation loop. That same liquid hydrogen could be used as a fuel source in hydrogen-electric aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells.&nbsp;
Superconductors allow electrical current to flow with zero resistance when cooled below a critical temperature just a few degrees above absolute zero (minus 273 degrees C). In conventional electric motors, the hardware poses an inherent electrical resistance that causes some energy to be lost in the form of heat. Without that resistance, superconducting motors are far more efficient at converting electricity into mechanical energy.&nbsp;
Toshiba Energy Systems &amp; Solutions Corporation, the Toshiba Group’s energy arm, has been studying superconductors for nearly half a century and has already developed its own prototype of a 2-megawatt superconducting motor.&nbsp;
“Partnering with Toshiba presents a unique opportunity to push beyond the limitations of today’s partial superconducting and conventional electrical motors,” said Grzegorz Ombach, Airbus senior vice president and head of disruptive research and technology. “Through this collaboration, we aim to deliver a breakthrough technology that could unlock new design possibilities, in particular for Airbus' future hydrogen-powered aircraft.”

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Toshiba and Airbus Jointly Develop Superconducting Electric Motors 

Superconductors could make hydrogen-powered airliners more efficient

Airbus UpNext partners with Toshiba on a 2-megawatt superconducting electric motor for future hydrogen-powered aircraft.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Turbofan flew more than 36,000 nm fitted to the engine maker's Boeing 747 testbed aircraft

Rolls-Royce Completes Pearl 10X Engine Flight Testing

Matt Thurber

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Readers rate business aviation engine OEMs' aftermarket support

AIN Product Support Survey 2024: Engines

Hanneke Weitering

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

$1.9 million contract funds first production-ready VH-3 prototype

USAF Funds VerdeGo's Hybrid Powerplant Development

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

All-electric aircraft is expected to enter service with airport shuttle flights

Sora and Bath University Start Battery Tests for S-1 eVTOL 'Bus'

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

The expansion will enable GKN to keep up with global demand

GKN Expanding Swedish Engine Component Plant

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Oxford University spinoff says propulsion technology could support eVTOL aircraft and business jets

Qdot Choses H3's Hydrogen Fuel Cells For Uncrewed VTOL Aircraft

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

In this article

Airbus

More In Engines

Rolls-Royce Completes Pearl 10X Engine Flight Testing

Turbofan flew more than 36,000 nm fitted to the engine maker's Boeing 747 testbed aircraft

AIN Product Support Survey 2024: Engines

Readers rate business aviation engine OEMs' aftermarket support

USAF Funds VerdeGo's Hybrid Powerplant Development

$1.9 million contract funds first production-ready VH-3 prototype

Sora and Bath University Start Battery Tests for S-1 eVTOL 'Bus'

All-electric aircraft is expected to enter service with airport shuttle flights

GKN Expanding Swedish Engine Component Plant

The expansion will enable GKN to keep up with global demand

Qdot Choses H3's Hydrogen Fuel Cells For Uncrewed VTOL Aircraft

Oxford University spinoff says propulsion technology could support eVTOL aircraft and business jets

GE Aerospace Joins AI Safety Consortium

GE has doubled its investment in AI and uses it in a range of applications

Lilium Completes Key Stage of Electric Propulsion Tests for eVTOL Aircraft

A purpose-built lab in Germany is being used for ground tests

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN