Ascendance goes with Safran’s electric motor for hybrid VTOL

Ascendance has selected Safran Electrical & Power’s ENGINeUS, the first electric motor to be certified by EASA, for its hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. 

The electric motor will power Ascendance’s Atea aircraft prototype through initial testing, the French company reports. The prototype demonstrator, currently in production, will have two ENGINeUS electric motors each developing more than 100kW.

Jean-Christophe Lambert, Ascendance’s CEO said: “Safety is central to our programme, particularly the first test flights with a pilot on board. This collaboration with Safran Electrical & Power, a leading industrial player, is an opportunity for us to benefit from their expertise in performance and safety, as well as the performance of the ENGINeUS motors.”

Atea (rendering pictured above) features a propulsion architecture consisting of eight vertical electric motors and two horizontal electric motors. 

Ascendance has begun ground testing at its aircraft test facilities in Muret, south of Toulouse, France. These tests aim to approve the integration of new technologies, including ENGINeUS.

Agnès Pronost-Gilles, executive vice president and general manager of Power Division, Safran Electrical & Power said: “We are very proud to support Ascendance with their ambitious VTOL ATEA program. This announcement, which comes after the EASA certification of our ENGINeUS motor, consolidates our position as a pioneer in electric propulsion. It is the result of several months of technical collaboration between our two companies in the Occitanie French region.”