Sinusas adds a cautionary note. “Tere is the question of whether an electric or hybrid-electric helicopter will be treated as a new concept by the regulatory and certification authorities, and how comfortable they’ll be with a system that really has no precedent to date.”
The Hybrid Solution According to Luca Cossetti, Airbus Helicopters’ innovative power solutions expert, the first step toward helicopter electric propulsion will be hybridization. As he describes it, an electric propulsion system will be combined with a current thermal (fossil fuel–powered) engine, in order to supply additional power to the rotors during specific flight phases. “For helicopters, the four major challenges
for electrification are the batteries, the low power and energy density of current cell tech- nologies, a difficult integration within the helicopter airframe, and certification require- ments that are still under definition,” Cossetti says. “Also, the electric propulsion chain needs
to show sufficient availability/reliability for helicopter applications and expected functions. Tis is not an easy task with current technology standards for batteries, power electronics, and e-motors.” Cossetti also stresses that, unlike fixed-wing
aircraft, which are more tolerant of increases in empty weight and integration of additional equipment, the balance between empty weight, payload, and fuel quantity on a helicopter is very delicate. “Even small mass variations can have import-
ant consequences for mission capabilities and performance,” he cautions. “Batteries would for sure increase the empty weight of a heli- copter—in the case of both hybrid and, even more, in full electric versions. Tis is why we need a significant increase in battery power and energy densities in order to limit the degradation on payload.” Cossetti explains that at Airbus, the philos-
ophy is to “start with a small degree of hybrid- ization and increase progressively.” In fact, he
notes that the OEM has been engaged in hybrid projects since 2011, when an electric backup system test campaign was carried out on an H125 Ecureuil light helicopter test bed. “Since then, a lot of progress has been made
regarding batteries and electric engines. In the coming months, we’re planning to do another flight test campaign on an H130, with lighter batteries and smaller electric engines,” Cossetti explains. “Te aim of the project is to provide power to the rotor system for up to 30 seconds in case of an engine failure. In such circum- stances, the system would make autorotation safer by maintaining the rotor’s constant rotation speed.” Light single-engine helicopters have been
deployed at Airbus as test beds, because, according to Cossetti, they’re a logical starting point. “With a light single-engine helicopter platform, hybridization could bring benefits and new functions without unacceptable performance degradation,” he says. Asked about the potential for easier
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