Airbus E-Fan and E-Thrust propulsion system

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by basjoos

WheelTug and EGTS International manufacture powered wheel systems for commercial jetliners.

I still haven't seen any aircraft with powered wheels. Anyway, if their energy consumption is lower than relying solely on the turbofans' thrust while taxiing and if they could provide some regenerative braking at the landing, it may still justify the weight increase.

[basjoos]

Turbojets idle very inefficiently, so jetliners can save a lot of fuel if they can use an electric drive wheel powered by the APU to push back from the terminal and to taxi out to the runway, only starting their turbofans once they get close to the end of the taxiway prior to takeoff. This is especially true if the airport if busy and they are having to sit in line on the taxiway with a bunch of other jetliners waiting for their turn to takeoff.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

And now that some airports are pushing stricter emission regulations on their premises, electric-driven landing gear might become widespread. In a similar way to what happens to hybrid cars which get their best mileage in city traffic, such "hybrid" aircraft would be especially attractive for regional airliners.