While the automobile sector has made great strides toward sustainable transportation, the aviation industry has lagged behind due to a lack of high-power, lightweight electric propulsion. This is a significant factor contributing to the gap between the two sectors, which the aviation industry aims to address.
Now, it seems like a new era of aviation may be on the horizon, thanks to the development of a novel all-electric jet engine, which boasts the same power as its traditional fossil fuel-powered counterparts.
Duxion Motors, a Canadian company, recently achieved a significant milestone with the ground test of its revolutionary eJet Motor – the world’s first rim-driven jet propulsion motor. According to the company, its patented electric jet engine is poised to make high-speed electric aviation a reality.
Completed in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada, the successful ground testing of the scaled prototype included both low-speed and high-speed testing.
The eJet motor utilizes a novel permanent magnet technology to deliver the highest power-to-weight ratio in the lightest and most compact design, allowing for the electrification of jet aircraft. The firm’s integrated ducted fan system adds forced convective cooling to the liquid cooling system, increasing power density and reliability. Also, its flexible design can adapt to various airframes.
With only a small axle for maintaining concentricity, Duxion’s technology achieves higher thrust with a reduced hub footprint and offers the ability to include additional fan stages or to create an adjustable duct.
According to the company, the world’s fleet of over 30,000 jet-powered aircraft is responsible for 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. The eJet motor replaces traditional, fossil fuel-burning engines, paving the way for zero-emissions flight for jet aircraft. And that’s not all – the eJet is also quieter than combustion jet engines, which enhances passenger comfort and reduces noise pollution for the global community.
The company believes that its patented eJet motor will enable jet owners and OEMs to hybridize or fully electrify their existing fleets more quickly and economically.
“The eJet Motor is the world’s first rim-driven jet propulsion motor, with the means of matching existing jet engine thrust but without the emissions,” explains Rick Pilgrim, Chairman and CEO of Duxion Motors, in a statement. “The eJet Motor is novel, scalable, and can be configured to serve a broad base of airframes.”
