FREMONT, CA: Airbus Group and Siemens have signed a co-operative agreement in the field of hybrid electric propulsion to promote the electrification of aviation by developing electric and electric hybrid flights. The agreement aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of various hybrid/electric propulsion systems by 2020.

Both Airbus Group, and Siemens have formed a team of 200 employees to advance European dominion in innovation and the development of electrically powered aircraft.

Hybrid electric propulsion systems are significant for the future as they reduce fuel consumption of aircrafts as hybrid electric propulsion utilizes electricity as the primary source of energy and reduces the amount of noise produced by creating silent propulsion systems which aren’t as noisy as the present fuel powered ones. The European emissions aim at reducing CO₂ emissions to 75 percent by 2050 as compared to the values for the year 2000.

The companies plans to jointly develop a number of prototypes for various propulsion systems with power classes ranging from a few 100 kilowatts up to 10 and more megawatts. They are focusing on short distance, local trips with aircrafts holding less than 100 seats, helicopters and UAV’s ranging from short to medium length journeys.

"Electric and electric-hybrid flight represent some of the biggest industrial challenges of our time, aiming at zero-emissions aviation. The progress we have achieved in this arena, together with our industrial and governmental partners, in only a few years is breath-taking, culminating in last year's channel crossing of our all-electric E-Fan aircraft. Big thanks today particularly to the Bavarian Government and Minister Aigner for their support here in Ottobrunn", says Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus Group. "We believe that by 2030 passenger aircraft below 100 seats could be propelled by hybrid propulsion systems and we are determined to explore this possibility together with world-class partners like Siemens."