easyJet to trial hybrid plane technology in 2016

In a strategic effort to considerably reduce its carbon footprint, one of Europe’s leading airlines, easyJet, has revealed its plans to trial technology for a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel system for its planes. It is anticipated that this could dramatically reduce CO2 emissions as well as save the airline over 50,000 tonnes of fuel on an annual basis.
easyJet has been heavily committed to reducing its carbon footprint for many years, and during the last 15 it has managed to reduce this by 28%. They have currently set a new five-year target to reduce CO2 emissions by 7% from 81.05 grams CO2 per passenger kilometer. According to easyJet they have a passenger carbon footprint which is 22% less than that for a traditional airline flying the same aircraft on the same routes.
As part of a competition in 2015 to celebrate easyJet’s 20th birthday, students at Cranfield University, a global leader in education and research in technology and management, were asked to develop ideas for what air travel might look like in twenty years’ time, and it is from this the inspiration for the hybrid plane came.
The concept will utilize a hydrogen fuel cell located in the aircraft’s hold, the system allowing energy to be captured as the aircraft brakes on landing and which can then be used to charge the system’s lightweight batteries while the aircraft is on the ground and in a manner dissimilar to the KERS system used in F1cars.
The main wheels in each aircraft would have motors and electronics, while system controllers would give pilots complete control of the aircraft’s speed, direction and braking while taxiing. This has the potential to remove the total need need for tugs to manoeuvre aircraft, thus improving turnaround times and time performance.
The only waste product from this system would be fresh clean water which would be capable of refilling the aircraft’s water system during a flight. According to easyJet’s Head of Engineering, Ian Davies: “At easyJet, we are continuing to apply the use of new digital and engineering technologies across the airline.
“The hybrid plane concept we are announcing today is both a vision of the future and a challenge to our partners and suppliers to continue to push the boundaries towards reducing our carbon emissions.”