Siemens' Prototype Electric Aircraft Motor is Surprisingly Powerful

By: Rahul Kalvapallé - Apr 20, 2015
References: siemens & gizmag
Researchers and engineers at Siemens have developed a new prototype electric aircraft engine that weighs only 50 kg but still produces 260 kW of power at 2,500 RPM. This makes the motor an incredible five times more powerful than similarly sized motors, and suggests that it offers enough power to lift aircraft weighing up to 2 tons.

The motor was developed by considering all previous electric aircraft engines and optimizing each individual element from these engines. Computer simulation was used to model the motor prior to physical construction. The end result is an engine that boasts a weight-to-performance ratio of 5 kW per kilogram, which is pretty exceptional.

While it sounds ludicrous to claim that a 50 kg motor can pack enough punch to help a 2-ton aircraft lift off, these numbers show how far engine innovation has come. It also proves the viability of electric aircraft engines, which should prove to be an economical and environmentally sound alternative to conventional aircraft engines.