Airbus and Safran offer electric taxiing system for A320 family
Paris, June 21, 2017: Following the completion of an extensive R&T phase, an electric taxiing solution, called “eTaxi”, has received ‘Authorization To Market’ approval by Airbus and Safran, for application on the A320 Family. Depending on the airline feedback, the actual program could subsequently be launched in the near future. eTaxi’s electric motors in the main landing gear, powered by electricity from the APU (auxiliary power unit), would allow an aircraft fitted with it to taxi without using its jet engines or requiring airport tractors or tugs.
eTaxi would provide airlines with a sustainable solution which combines savings on operating costs (including a reduction of around four percent in fuel costs, equal to several hundred thousand dollars per aircraft annually), independent movement on the ground (saving around two minutes of time on pushback), as well as ecological advantages such reduced carbon (CO2)and NOx emissions, and less noise during taxiing.
Source: Airbus