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Rolls-Royce initiates testing of a 320-kilowatt electric motor, marking a significant step in its electric propulsion endeavors. The trials signify the company's commitment to advancing sustainable aviation technology. With a focus on electric power systems, Rolls-Royce aims to drive innovation and contribute to the decarbonization of the aerospace sector.
No reported buyers for the aircraft engine maker's for sale electrical division
Rolls-Royce has assembled the first demonstrator for its 320-kilowatt electric motor and has begun bench tests with it this week in Trondheim, Norway. The direct drive motor is being developed for use with new electric and hybrid-electric regional aircraft seating between 9 and 19 passengers that could operate from short runways.
According to the aircraft engine manufacturer, its engineering teams are focused on minimizing the weight and size of electric to make them more applicable to new aircraft. The demonstrator now being tested features a new design for an air cooling system that weighs less and is less complex, with a four-electric-lane architecture that Rolls-Royce said makes it safer and more fault-resistant.
On March 28, Rolls-Royce reported that the first passive tests had been conducted with the motor to prove its basic mechanical and electrical functionality. Further tests will now be conducted at a site in Munich, Germany, over the next few weeks.
Rolls-Royce engineers from five locations are working on the project, which includes tasks such as designing new manufacturing equipment and tooling in-house to prepare for scalable production. Some testing and assembly work will be conducted in Hungary.
The company’s team in Trondheim has previously worked on manufacturing and testing a 2-megawatt generator developed for the former E-Fan X project with Airbus. Rolls-Royce has also developed a 500-kilowatt generator for the M250H program and a 400-kilowatt electric motor for the Do228hep concept that could be used to re-engine regional airliners.
In November 2023, Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç announced that the group would sell its electrical business unit as part of a wider divesture strategy that he said could raise as much as $1.9 billion over the next five years. The company has made no public comment on whether it has received any offers for the division, which is committed to customers including Vertical Aerospace, for which it is developing the electrical propulsion system for the four-passenger VX4 eVTOL aircraft.
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