EcoPulse, the distributed hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft demonstrator developed jointly by Daher, Safran and Airbus – has concluded its flight test campaign, delivering crucial insights to meet the decarbonization goals for air transport by 2050. This collaborative project, which is emblematic of the French aerospace sector, has provided unique experience in the design, certification, production, and operation of hybrid-electric aircraft.
EcoPulse performed its first hybrid-electric test flight on November 29, 2023, from Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport. Since its maiden flight, EcoPulse accumulated 100 flight hours and performed some 50 test flights with the distributed hybrid propulsion system, the last of which took place in July 2024. These tests enabled the demonstration of unprecedented onboard electric power levels for distributed electric propulsion, with a network voltage of approximately 800 volts DC and a power output of 350 kilowatts.
The flight tests yielded significant findings, including an objective evaluation of hybridization technologies’ maturity, a performance assessment when integrated into the aircraft, and an identification of operational limitations.
For instance, the tests showed that the synchro-phasing of the ePropellers (electric motors) can reduce interior noise. This synchro-phasing is an additional benefit of the innovative flight control computer, primarily designed to maneuver the aircraft – substituting traditional control surfaces –by adjusting the distribution of electric power among the ePropellers.
More broadly, EcoPulse identified key challenges in decarbonizing aviation:
- Electric and hybrid-electric architectures.
- Development of key components: batteries (performance and operational range) and high-voltage management systems (>400 V).
- Pilot assistance with specialized interfaces.
- Demonstration logic for airworthiness.
- Optimization of weight and noise.
- Skills associated with managing complexity.
The flight test campaign laid the groundwork for compliance documents to meet regulatory requirements for hybrid-electric propulsion flights, establishing the basis for certifying the safety of innovative aircraft configurations.