Hardware Podcasts

131. Megawatt Motors For Electric Flight

The Next Byte Podcast · 18 Jul 2023 · 22m

What this episode covers

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss an MIT research team's development of a one-megawatt electric motor designed for regional and private jets, addressing the critical gap in high-power propulsion for electric flight. The team holistically optimized four key components—the stator, magnetic rotor, passive heat exchanger, and custom PCB-based power electronics—to achieve a weight of less than an adult passenger while delivering six times the power of a Tesla Model 3 drive unit. They highlight that while this motor is not yet sufficient for large commercial airliners like the A380, it enables viable hybrid powertrain systems for smaller aircraft, potentially reducing per-passenger carbon emissions significantly. The hosts note the team's upcoming full assembly and testing scheduled for the fall, marking a significant step toward practical electric aviation.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
MIT, Tesla, Rolls-Royce, German Aerospace Center, Mouser Electronics
Products
Airbus A380, Boeing 737

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