Electric flight is considered one of the great hopes for a more climate-friendly aviation industry. But electric aircraft require more than just new propulsion systems; the onboard power supply must also be completely reimagined. This is precisely what a research project involving Chemnitz University of Technology is working on.
The Chair of Power Electronics at Chemnitz University of Technology is part of the Cab-E-Net collaborative project. The goal is to develop new power electronic converters and components for the power supply in hybrid and fully electric aircraft. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is funding the project with approximately 4.5 million euros over three years. Chemnitz University of Technology’s share of this funding is about 390,000 euros.
Research and Industry Collaborate
The project is coordinated by Liebherr Electronics and Drives in Lindau. Other partners include Infineon Technologies, Sumida Components & Modules, and the Fraunhofer Institutes IISB in Erlangen and ISE in Freiburg. Through close collaboration between academia and industry, the research results are to be rapidly translated into practical applications.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Basler, head of the Chair of Power Electronics at Chemnitz University of Technology, emphasizes the importance of the work. "With their expertise in the field of power electronics, the researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology are making an important contribution to the development of forward-looking technologies for the climate-friendly aviation of tomorrow."
The project is part of the LuFo Klima VII-1 aviation research program. The technologies developed are intended to help advance the electrification of aviation and lay the foundation for more sustainable aircraft designs.
