Airbus demonstrates electric taxiing system at Paris Air Show
24 June 2013
At the Paris Air Show, Airbus demonstrated a modified A320 fitted with its electric green taxiing system (EGTS), which was developed by EGTS International—a joint venture of Safran and Honeywell.
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| Electric taxiing system. Click to enlarge. |
One wheel on each main gear is equipped with an electric motor, reduction gearbox and clutch assembly to drive the aircraft during taxi operations, with power electronics and system controllers allowing pilots to control its speed and direction.
The EGTS is powered by the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU) generator, allowing the aircraft to move around the tarmac without using its main engines.
It sounds like a great idea - you only have to run the APU, and not the main turbofans while taxiing - very good for short haul operations.
I wouldn't like to blow a tire on landing and see what was left of it.
I wonder could they also use it to pre-spin the wheels to avoid burning the tires on touchdown - they have to be accelerated from 0 - 150 mph as fast as possible on touchdown - you can see the little puffs of smoke as the rubber burns on landing.
Posted by: mahonj | 24 June 2013 at 03:53 AM
Yes both are possible and will be developed to reduce fuel consumption and tire wear on Airbus 318, 319 and 320. Wheels could be designed to self-spin with airflow?
Boeing, Bombardier and others will certainly follow in 2020s.
Posted by: HarveyD | 24 June 2013 at 08:56 AM
Pre-spinning the wheels might be better done with engine bleed air and turbine blades on the brake discs; the power requirements for a rapid spin-up are going to be way beyond what a taxi motor needs.
Spinning up with slipstream air adds drag during takeoff as well, decreasing performance during that critical period.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 24 June 2013 at 11:07 AM