First aircraft to taxi on electric power

Credit: Honeywell/ Safran/ Airbus/ Green Car Reports

Development continues on electric propulsion for commercial aircraft. In the meantime, electric drive for taxiing works right now.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084874_first-aircraft-to-taxi-on-electric-power-paris-air-show-premiere / low hanging low-hanging fruit aviation industry Electric Green Taxiing System EGTS Paris air show concept Aviation Week simple aircraft taxi runway power jet turbine engines electric motors mounted main landing gear power drive transmission benefits advantages Reduction fuel use taxiing small proportion fraction aircraft's aircraft plane fuel average flight gallon tug push move under its own power Auxiliary Power Unit save saving time money brake wear lower system braking regenerative benefits electric cars vehicle EV foreign object damage engines engine carbon dioxide co2 nitrogen oxide emissions reduced estimated 75 50 percent % carbon tax liabilities European airports system developed research researched Honeywell Safran tested Airbus A320 mid-haul short-haul mid short haul markets market savings save operators $200,000 per year per aircraft fuel costs companies develop development developing similar systems WheelTug electric taxiing handled nosewheel rather main gear systems testing stage 50 operators already interested first flight with electric taxiing /