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Bloomberg
Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc is joining Airbus SE and Siemens AG in their quest to develop a 100-seater hybrid electric aircraft, giving the UK engine maker a seat at the table of a potential promising aviation technology.
Rolls is tasked with helping develop a 2 megawatt electric drive for the aircraft, according to people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified as the information is private. A formal accord with Rolls could be announced as soon
as Tuesday, they said.
Step by step, Siemens and Airbus are moving closer towards their goal of producing a single-aisle plane with a 20 to 40 megawatt electric drive. Siemens already demonstrated smaller aircraft with 60 kilowatt drive systems at air shows this year. The two companies initially set a goal to make a two-seater electric aircraft, dubbed the e-fan, that would have been used as a pilot trainer and tour-operator.
Spokespeople for Siemens, Airbus and Rolls declined to comment.