4 February 2025
A brand new electric motor that will power many of the world’s electric aircraft has received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The motor is the Safran ENGINeUS 100 which develops 125kW – about 168bhp. Safran says it has an ‘unrivalled weight-to-power ratio of 5 kW/kg’.
More than 1,500 hours of tests and 100 flight hours on an aircraft in real-world conditions went into the certification process.
“It is the result of four years of collaboration with EASA to define the specific airworthiness rules for electric propulsion and design the right methods to properly assess and certify it,” said Safran.
The ENGINeUS 100 electric motor is more than just an electric motor. Its design includes power and control electronics directly integrated into the motor. Safran says it can be easily integrated into all propulsion architectures, thanks to its compactness, lightness and its air cooling system.
Safran Electrical & Power is preparing to mass-produce the ENGINeUS range with the creation of four semi-automated production lines in 2026 in Niort (France) and Pitstone (UK), enabling production of more than 1,000 electric motors per year, with capacity to increase production.
French company VoltAero will equip its Cassio 330 electric-hybrid aircraft with the Safran motor. Photos: Safran
The market for the ENGINeUS electric motor is varied, according to Safran. From 100% electric propulsion for small two to four passengers aircraft, to distributed hybrid-electric propulsion for 19-passenger small regional transport aircraft, right up to the electric hybridisation of future generations of commercial aircraft engines, capable of carrying 150 passengers.
“Many planemakers operating in new air mobility have already opted for Safran’s ENGINeUS motor range or GENeUS motor-generators: Aura Aero, Bye Aerospace, CAE, Diamond Aircraft, Electra, TCab Tech, and VoltAero,” said Safran.
Bruno Bellanger, CEO of Safran Electrical & Power, added, “We have just witnessed a key moment in the history of aviation.
“By obtaining certification for the ENGINeUS 100 electric motor, Safran Electrical & Power has achieved a world first. For Safran Electrical & Power and its institutional partners, this event represents an immense source of pride.”
