New silicon-powered electric motor could change aviation forever

A hybrid Cessna 337 aircraft in Southern California successfully completed a test flight using a new silicon carbide-based motor system developed by the University of Arkansas’ Power Group in collaboration with Ampaire and Wolfspeed. This system features a smaller, more efficient silicon carbide inverter that replaces traditional hybrid aircraft components, marking a significant advancement in energy-efficient aviation. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E, the project demonstrated that silicon carbide transistors, which switch up to 1,000 times faster than traditional silicon, can dramatically improve efficiency while reducing the size and weight of supporting electrical components—key benefits for aviation applications. Silicon carbide’s advantages include higher switching speeds and reduced energy loss, enabling lighter and more compact electrical systems that can enhance aircraft performance and passenger comfort. Despite historically high production costs, improvements in manufacturing are lowering expenses, making the technology attractive to major automakers and potentially transforming aviation. The test flight also addressed aviation-specific challenges such as vibration, landing shocks, and