GE Aerospace tests new hybrid electric engine for future aircraft

GE Aerospace announced a significant milestone in hybrid-electric aviation with the successful ground test of a modified Passport high-bypass turbofan engine capable of extracting, transferring, and reinserting electrical power during operation. Conducted in 2025 at GE’s Peebles Test Operation in Ohio under NASA’s Turbofan Engine Power Extraction Demonstration project, this integrated test demonstrated a full hybrid electric engine system working together in real conditions. Unlike traditional hybrid designs, the engine supplements thrust electrically without relying on onboard batteries, reducing weight and complexity while maintaining flexibility. This breakthrough aims to improve efficiency and durability for next-generation single-aisle commercial aircraft in the U.S. The collaboration with NASA marked the first time electric motors, power electronics, and control systems were integrated inside a working turbofan engine, surpassing technical benchmarks designed to ensure meaningful fuel savings and meet future power demands. Although the hybrid engine still burns jet fuel, electric assistance enhances key operations, requiring new design and safety validation approaches distinct from hybrid car technology.