GE Aerospace is highlighting its hybrid-electric propulsion advances this week at Verticon. The company has teamed with Sikorsky to provide a CT7 turboshaft engine, electric motor/generator, and associated power electronics for the latter’s HEX (Hybrid-Electric eXperimental) VTOL demonstrator, the power train test bed of which is currently under construction. HEX is viewed as Sikorsky's stepping stone to a larger commercial passenger hybrid-electric vehicle.

The engine maker is also a partner with the U.S. Army on the Applied Research Collaborative Systematic Turboshaft Electrification Project, which focuses on the research, development, and testing of a megawatt (MW) class electrified powerplant. It also will further evaluate how hybrid-electric systems can enhance military rotorcraft.

A collaboration with NASA and Boeing, GE's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration Program centers on the development and testing of a MW-class hybrid-electric powertrain for commercial aviation. These systems can provide improved fuel efficiency and performance compared to today’s commercial aircraft engines.

Also in partnership with NASA, the Turbofan Engine Power Extraction Demonstration will embed electric motor/generators in a high-bypass commercial turbofan to supplement power during different phases of operation. This creates a system that can work with or without energy storage units such as batteries.

“At GE Aerospace, we think the future of flight is more electric. To that end, we’re pursuing a range of hybrid-electric programs that will demonstrate the integration of power electronics with gas turbines compatible with multiple energy sources, meeting our customers’ needs for more efficient propulsion systems,” said Christine Andrews, GE Aerospace’s executive hybrid-electric systems leader.