Aviation accounts for about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, and aircraft engineers worldwide are working to turn flying into a cleaner, greener enterprise. Electric flight, however, requires ongoing innovation in two significant areas: lighter, more power-dense batteries, and reduced mechanical friction.
There’s progress on the battery front in the form of solid-state lithium and graphene batteries. On the friction-reduction front, Timken’s recent work on land-based electric vehicle (EV) drive systems and strong aerospace product legacy make it an ideal partner for advancing electric flight.
“We’re at the very beginning of this revolution, and Timken is a preferred partner for many leading aircraft manufacturers,” says Ryan Evans, director of research and development at Timken. “Our aerospace product technologies, including special heat treatments, material choices, and tribological know-how give us a head start on the friction-reduction problems inherent to electric flight.”
