Delta Air Lines recently launched a partnership with Green Taxi Aerospace to help develop an all-electric taxiing system through its Sustainable Skies Lab.
Green Taxi’s founder and chief executive David Valaer describes the Plano, Texas-based company’s technology as a retrofit allowing airlines to taxi jets using an electric motor in the main landing gear, powered by the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU).
Valaer says the Zero Engine Taxi system could help airlines reduce fuel burn from running one or both engines at low thrust on taxiways. He also envisions ”faster, more efficient turns with reduced tug use” and reduced overall emissions.
The start-up claims the system could save commercial jet operators about $300,000 per aircraft annually through less fuel burn.
Delta confirmed the partnership with the electric taxi technology developer last month. It will initially see Delta use its operational experience to help Green Taxi optimise its system for regional aircraft.
But Delta says its big-picture vision for the system’s use ”extends far behind a single aircraft model or airline”.
”The Green Taxi partnership is another example of Delta’s approach to impact what it can control today while innovating future technologies like scaling sustainable aviation fuel and revolutionary fleet development,” the airline says.
Green Taxi Aerospace earlier this year launched a partnership with StandardAero aimed at US certification of the Zero Engine Taxi on Embraer 175s.
US regional carriers Republic Airways and SkyWest Airlines fly dozens of E175s on behalf of Delta under the Delta Connection brand.
Delta also recently added Dutch firm Maeve Aerospace to its technology incubator, with an an agreement to “advance development” of the start-up’s conceptual hybrid-electric Maeve Jet.
The Atlanta-based airline describes itself as Maeve’s “North American airline partner”, with plans to ”lend its operational expertise” in developing the regional aircraft.
SkyWest also took an equity stake in Maeve, signalling intention to operate the Maeve Jet should it come into production in the 2030s.
