A320 Electric Jet
EADS APU-Powered Electric Wheels for A320 Family
Airbus engineers have patented a still-experimental taxiing system for the A320 family, which includes the Airbus Corporate Jet, that uses electrically driven wheels to reduce fuel consumption during ground operations at airports and allow autonomous push backs.
EADS says the system uses electric "actuators" powered by the aircraft's auxiliary power unit (APU) to drive the landing gear wheels. Fuel consumption is expected to be five times less using the APU as compared to using engine power -- saving as much as 200 kg of fuel per flight compared with current airport processes. In addition, this alternative eliminates the need for a tug to push airlines away from the boarding gate.
The demonstration phase of the project is scheduled to close in 2012 with full-scale taxi tests beginning in 2013. If all goes as planned, EADS says initial flight tests will take place the following year.
From Aviation Weeks BCA Bulletin.