Pratt & Whitney Canada to lead EU hybrid-electric aircraft demonstrator
Summary points:
- PHARES supports the EU’s Ultra-Efficient Regional Aircraft architecture and climate action plan.
- Hybrid-electric demonstrator will use a PW127XT-derivative turboprop engine and a Collins 250 kW electric motor drive system.
- Pratt & Whitney Canada will design and integrate a hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator under the EU’s PHARES program, aiming to cut fuel consumption on regional flights by 20 percent.
LONGUEUIL, Quebec - Pratt & Whitney Canada, an RTX business in Longueuil, Quebec, has been selected by the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking to lead the Powerplant Hybrid Application REgional Segment (PHARES) project. RTX says this marks the first time a Canadian company will lead a Clean Aviation program.
As part of the PHARES consortium, Pratt & Whitney Canada will work with RTX business Collins Aerospace, ATR, Airbus, and other technology research organizations. PHARES is one of several projects RTX will join under Clean Aviation’s third call for proposals.
For PHARES, Pratt & Whitney Canada will design and integrate a hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator targeting up to 20 percent improved fuel efficiency on regional aircraft missions. The system will feature an advanced PW127XT-derivative turboprop engine connected to a Collins 250-kilowatt electric motor drive system through an optimized propeller gearbox, along with thermal efficiency improvements. Collins will also develop an advanced propeller to improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise.
Cleaner aviation goals
"Hybrid-electric propulsion and electrified aircraft systems are key parts of RTX’s technology roadmap for optimizing performance and enhancing fuel efficiency across multiple future aircraft platforms, and PHARES represents a transformative opportunity to demonstrate the potential for regional aviation," said Maria Della Posta, president of Pratt & Whitney Canada.
PHARES is part of Clean Aviation’s Ultra-Efficient Regional Aircraft architecture. The program supports the European Union’s climate action plan by enabling next-generation energy-efficient technologies for regional aircraft and advancing the aviation industry’s decarbonization goals.
