Airbus is sponsoring an innovative two-seat electric-powered aircraft at the international Aero-Expo in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
Known as ‘eGenius’, the aircraft technology demonstrator was designed by the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Aircraft Design, with Airbus being the project’s main sponsor. Data collected from ‘eGenius’ will be analysed by an Airbus Future Project team in order to develop the technology and consider it for possible use in future air travel.
Airbus involvement with the ‘eGenius’ forms part of a wider effort by the manufacturer in supporting various other research and technology projects with universities and research institutions around the world. Development of fuel cell technology and the testing of bio-fuels have also formed part of Airbus’s alternative energy source strategy. “It is our European Aviation Vision 2050 to reduce CO2-emissions by 75 per cent, NOx by 90 per cent and noise by 65 per cent compared to levels in 2000,” Airbus senior vice president, Product Strategy and Market Forecast Christopher Emerson, said.
“Airbus is therefore carefully studying all technologies available today for future alternative aviation energy-sources. By sponsoring experimental projects like the “eGenius”, we are gathering valuable experience and data for our further analyses and research activities in this area.”
