EcoPulse, the distributed hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft demonstrator developed jointly by Daher, Safran and Airbus – has concluded its flight test campaign, delivering crucial insights to meet the decarbonisation goals for air transport by 2050. EcoPulse performed its first hybrid-electric test flight on November 29, 2023, from Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport.
Since its maiden flight, EcoPulse accumulated 100 flight hours and performed some 50 test flights with the distributed hybrid propulsion system, the last of which took place in July 2024. These tests enabled the demonstration of unprecedented onboard electric power levels for distributed electric propulsion, with a network voltage of approximately 800 volts DC and a power output of 350 kilowatts.
The flight tests yielded significant findings, including an objective evaluation of hybridisation technologies' maturity, a performance assessment when integrated into the aircraft, and an identification of operational limitations. More broadly, EcoPulse identified key challenges in decarbonising aviation from the development of key components such as batteries to the optimisation of weight and noise..
An exemplary collaboration at the heart of aerospace innovation
The EcoPulse project showcases the strength of high-level cooperation between Daher, Safran, and Airbus. By pooling their expertise and test resources, the partners demonstrated significant synergies between general aviation and commercial aviation.
