ENGINeUS 100 electric motor

The ENGINeUS 100 is an electric motor for aircraft propulsion from Safran Electrical and Power, with its power electronics and control built into the same housing. It is a direct-drive electric propulsion motor for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, eVTOL and other aircraft that need a certified electrical drive.

It is designed for aircraft propulsion in two main roles: all-electric aircraft with two to four seats, and hybrid-electric aircraft carrying up to 19 passengers, where the motor takes the electrical power from batteries or from a generator. Safran names Bye Aerospace and VoltAero among the aircraft makers that use the ENGINeUS motors.

The key figures: continuous power is 100 kW, and the maximum power of the certified motor is 125 kW, which an integrator uses to size the supply, the cooling and the propeller for take-off and cruise. The power-to-weight ratio is 5 kW/kg at maximum power. In other words, a 125 kW motor weighs in the region of 25 kg, a figure to confirm with the maker for a mass budget. The power electronics are part of the unit.

Integration is simplified by the integrated controller. The motor and its inverter and control form one assembly, so the aircraft needs a DC power source, a cooling arrangement and the command interface from the flight or propulsion control system, rather than a separate motor controller with its own installation and wiring.

On certification, the ENGINeUS series is the product of an EASA type-certification process that was based on a special condition for electric and hybrid propulsion (SC E-19). The programme included around 1,500 hours of certification testing and more than 100 hours of flight. A certified motor means the aircraft maker can build on an approved engine data package for its own aircraft approval.

Typical applications are electric trainers and light aircraft, regional hybrid-electric aircraft, and eVTOL and large drone programmes in which a certified motor with integrated electronics shortens the integration effort and the certification path.