Easyjet planes have specific engine for taxiing (Reuters / Easyjet)
The British airline Easyjet has taken seriously the attempt to reduce the environmental impacts of its aircraft. With several projects in the last 15 years has managed to reduce by 28% the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and expects to reduce by 7% over the next five years with the adoption of a new technology.
The company will install a motor in the main landing gear, powered by a kind of hydrogen battery to power the aircraft during taxiing. Ie when they are on the ground, the aircraft Easyjet will not use powered aviation fuel engines.
The system works similarly to the KERS, popularized in Formula 1. When using the brakes during the landing, the system captures energy and stores it in hydrogen batteries. And during taxi, it is released to the landing gear.
The airline's expectation is that this new technology will save about 50 thousand tons of fuel per year, as taxiing consumes an average of up to 4% of kerosene carried in tanks.
The system generates waste of water, but according to Easyjet, it will be used to recharge the actual airplane water storage system.
This technology is the result of an airline's partnership with Cranfield University, where Easyjet has encouraged students to develop ideas for air transport here 20 years. One of them was exactly what system will be used during taxi.
Easyjet not said what it will cost to install the technology, but said it should quickly pay for itself due to the economy with jet fuel.
system operation scheme (Easyjet Disclosure)
