Pratt & Whitney Kicks Off Ground Trials for Hybrid-Electric Engine

The propulsion system integrates a thermal engine with a 1-megawatt electric motor and controller, engineered by Collins Aerospace, and a battery suite provided by the Swiss firm H55 S.A. By deploying the electric motor during high-demand phases like takeoff and climb, the architecture is designed to optimize performance across the entire flight profile. Engineers project this configuration could yield a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency for standard 250-nautical-mile regional missions.

Jean Thomassin, executive director of New Products and Services Introduction, noted that finalizing this flight-standard hardware brings the team within reach of proving the technology in live conditions. Following the conclusion of current ground tests, the system will be integrated into a modified De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 experimental aircraft, with maiden flight testing scheduled for 2027. The initiative relies on a broad coalition of partners, including GKN Aerospace, AeroTEC, Ricardo, and the National Research Council of Canada, with financial backing from the Canadian and Quebec governments.