Embraer and WEG, two of Brazil’s largest exporters of high-tech manufactured products, have signed an agreement to jointly develop new technologies and solutions to enable the electric propulsion of aircraft.

The partnership seeks to “accelerate the knowledge of the technologies necessary to increase the energy efficiency of aircraft from the use and integration of electric motors”.

Daniel Moczydlower, executive vice-president of engineering and technology at Embraer (www.embraer.com), said: “By creating this agreement with WEG, we have combined more than 100 years of innovation from two leading companies in generating knowledge and strengthening the supply chain, as well as increasing Brazilian competitiveness in the global market.

“Advances in scientific research can make clean and renewable energy a major enabler of a new era of urban and regional air mobility that is more accessible to the population.”

Manfred Peter Johann, superintendent director of WEG Automation (www.weg.net), said: “Our powertrain technology — developed over years for tried and tested applications in trains, buses, trucks and boats, and in constant evolution — has paved the way for this exciting scientific and technological co-operation project.

“Together with Embraer, we will work not only to enable the electric propulsion of aircraft, but also to increase the technological capacity of WEG, of Embraer and of Brazil.”

After testing these technologies in the laboratory, a small single-engine aircraft (based on the EMB-203 Ipanema) will be used as the test bed.

The first flight of the electric-powered demonstrator is scheduled for 2020.