MIT Engineers Develop Trailblazing 1-Megawatt Motor for Green Aviation: High-Flying Innovation

MIT engineers are pioneering a 1-megawatt motor to revolutionize the aviation industry by electrifying larger aircraft.

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MIT's project lead, Zoltan Spakovszky, affirms that megawatt-class motors will be essential for greening aviation, irrespective of the energy carrier used.

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MIT's team has developed a lightweight motor design, overcoming the stringent weight restrictions of the aviation industry.

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Creating an electric motor, both powerful and lightweight enough for large aircraft, is a complex process.

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MIT's motor design includes an innovative air-cooled heat exchanger for efficient thermal management of the 1 MW power output.

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The team is currently assembling and plans to test the first fully functioning electric motor by year's end.

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The team's work lays the groundwork for creating multi-megawatt motors, potentially powering large passenger planes.

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NASA and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, among others, are also developing megawatt-scale electric motors, contributing to a greener aviation future.

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Spakovszky anticipates a radical aviation industry transformation, with future aircraft powered by multiple megawatt-class motors, replacing traditional jet engines.

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