As part of Airbus’ goal to provide the first zero-emission commercial aircraft to the market by 2035, Nidec Leroy-Somer has signed an agreement to create an electric motor for its hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine prototype.

The French electric motor company, who currently supplies sophisticated technologies to several demanding industries, like the railroad, automobile, robotics, navy, and nuclear, is now working with the United States on aviation decarbonization.

Leroy-Somer, which has been a member of the Japanese Nidec Group since 2017, has been given the task of designing and developing a number of electric motor prototypes that adhere to very strict standards for dependability, safety, energy-efficiency, and lightest weight for the desired power.

Its capable Research & Development Team is also tasked with investigating ground-breaking technologies and improvements to optimize the aircraft propulsion system’s architecture. From its headquarters in Angouleme, France, project management, design, engineering, and prototyping will all be carried out.

Airbus’ zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell engine prototypes will undergo ground testing on specialized test benches before being integrated into the engine. A second round of in-flight testing will be carried out after the initial qualification and validation.