ENGINeUS 50 electric motor

The Safran ENGINeUS 50 is an electric motor for hybrid-electric and all-electric aircraft, made by Safran Electrical and Power as part of its ENGINeUS family. It delivers 50 kW of continuous power and has an integrated controller, so the motor and its power electronics form one unit that converts electrical energy into shaft output for a propeller or fan.

The integrated controller is the central design choice: the motor is described as a smart motor with the power electronic converter built into the machine. For an airframe maker this reduces the number of separate parts to install and wire, and the controller and motor are developed and qualified together. Safran also integrates an optimized cooling system into the machine.

For the 50 to 100 kW class of the family, Safran gives a continuous operating speed of 2,500 to 3,000 rpm, rising to 3,500 rpm at peak power. Power density including the integrated controller is 3.5 kW/kg at continuous power and 5 kW/kg at peak. These figures help an integrator estimate propulsion mass and plan the gearing or direct drive to the rotor. The ENGINeUS family operates at voltages up to 850 VDC, which sets the requirements for the battery, generator or fuel-cell supply and for the high-voltage wiring.

Integration involves a DC supply, command signals to the controller and the cooling interface. The motor is intended for direct-drive propulsion, which keeps the drivetrain simple compared with geared installations.

Typical applications are electric and hybrid-electric propulsion of fixed-wing aircraft and distributed propulsion on eVTOL and hybrid VTOL aircraft, where the family has been selected for several programs.