Pratt & Whitney Canada Completes Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Ground Tests

Pratt & Whitney Canada completed initial ground testing of a flight-standard hybrid-electric propulsion system in Longueuil, Quebec. The system integrates a new-class thermal engine with a 1-megawatt electric motor and motor controller developed by Collins Aerospace, utilizing a battery system supplied by H55 S.A.

Designed for regional turboprop flights of 250 nautical miles, the architecture provides additional power during takeoff and climb. RTX estimates the system will be 30 percent more efficient than standard turboprops. The project received financial support from the governments of Canada and Quebec, including funding via the Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology.

The propulsion package will now be shipped to Moses Lake, Washington, for installation on a modified De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 experimental aircraft. Flight trials, supported by AeroTec, are scheduled to begin in 2027. Other project partners include GKN Aerospace, Ricardo, and the National Research Council Canada.