Pratt & Whitney Canada has announced plans to advance research into hybrid-electric and demo aircraft propulsion technology as part of a $ 163 million CAD investment supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec.
The new hybrid-electric propulsion technology will lead to significant improvements in aircraft efficiency by optimizing performance in different phases of flight, allowing the user to reduce by 30% fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, compared to a regional turboprop aircraft. modern.
P&WC is working with De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited to integrate this hybrid-electric technology into a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 demo aircraft. This demo aircraft will include an advanced electric motor and a controller from Collins Aerospace, as well as a Raytheon Technologies deal.
Pratt & Whitney Canada continues research for hybrid-electric propulsion technology.
As part of Canada's green recovery plan, the Government of Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund is supporting the technology demo, which will help put Canada's aerospace industry at the forefront of global efforts to make aviation more sustainable. The Quebec government is supporting this project through Investissement Québec and the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, as part of an initiative known as the "Aéronef pour la mobilité numérique et verte de demain".
Combining advanced technologies developed by P&WC and Collins, this project is a successor to the 804 Project, launched in 2019, as a joint development program of the two companies, and provides a solid foundation for this new program. P&WC will aim for ground testing in 2022, leading to air testing of the Dash 8-100 aircraft in 2024.
The development of hybrid-electric propulsion technology is a central element of Pratt & Whitney's strategy to make aviation more sustainable.
All of these elements will be essential for the aerospace industry to meet its CO2 reduction targets by 2050. The company will continue to work with industry partners globally on a wide variety of aviation projects. increasingly sustainable, for the benefit of customers and the environment.
The company supports industry efforts to coordinate and accelerate the development of green aviation technologies in Canada, bringing together stakeholders in the Canadian aerospace ecosystem, from the supply chain to academia and government organizations.