eMoSys Motor Hits 600 kW at 96 Percent Efficiency as MTU Begins FFC Stack Manufacturing

eMoSys Motor Hits 600 kW at 96 Percent Efficiency as MTU Begins FFC Stack Manufacturing

(IN BRIEF) MTU Aero Engines has reached pivotal milestones in its Flying Fuel Cell™ development. The company completed the critical design review for its 600 kW electric powertrain and began manufacturing fuel-cell stacks in Munich. The eMoSys electric motor achieved a continuous 600 kW output at over 96 percent efficiency in initial tests. MTU’s first FFC test cell is now operational, equipped to validate stacks up to 500 kW, while a full-system test cell is under construction. Additionally, MTU leads the HEROPS consortium to design hydrogen-electric propulsion for regional aircraft by 2035, planning a ground demonstrator to scale powertrain technologies to 2–4 MW.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 16-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — MTU Aero Engines AG (ETR: MTX), Germany’s leading aircraft engine manufacturer, is advancing its Flying Fuel Cell™ (FFC) project with a series of key achievements. The engineering team has finalized the powertrain design, commenced production of the demonstrator’s fuel-cell stacks, and brought the first test cell online in Munich. Simultaneously, the 600 kW eMoSys electric motor—developed in partnership with MTU’s subsidiary eMoSys GmbH—successfully completed its inaugural reliability trials.

“Having passed our critical design review for the 600 kW electric powertrain, we’re moving from design into manufacturing and assembly,” said Barnaby Law, FFC Head Engineer at MTU. Production of the state-of-the-art fuel-cell stacks is now underway in Munich, marking the transition from blueprint to hardware.

In parallel, the eMoSys motor delivered a sustained 600 kW output during rigorous testing, achieving over 96 percent efficiency at both takeoff power and cruise conditions. “These results validate our motor’s performance and energy efficiency targets,” Law noted.

MTU’s Munich facility has also activated its first FFC test cell, equipped with hydrogen supply, cooling circuits, and compressed-air infrastructure. Designed for fuel-cell modules up to 500 kW each, this test cell is now operational. A second rig—the system test cell, which will evaluate complete engine integration—is currently under construction.

At the European level, MTU leads the HEROPS (Hydrogen-Electric Zero Emission Propulsion System) research consortium, developing climate-neutral electric powertrains for regional aircraft by 2035. Seven partners will first assess powertrain configurations up to 1.8 MW before building a ground demonstrator. This prototype will prove the scalability of FFC-derived modules to 2–4 MW outputs using a modular engine architecture.

MTU Aero Engines AG is a globally recognized expert in commercial and military aircraft engines. MTU‘s high-tech expertise ranges from the development and production of high-quality components to the final assembly of complete engines and the maintenance of aircraft engines and stationary gas turbines. In the financial year 2024, the DAX-listed company generated revenues of 7.5 billion euros. MTU technology can be found providing reliable thrust in one in three commercial aircraft worldwide. And every year, MTU maintains around 1,500 engines and industrial gas turbines. At 19 locations on five continents, more than 13,000 employees from over 80 nations contribute to safe global mobility. Together with other European engine manufacturers, MTU has also been ensuring and supporting the operational readiness of air forces for decades. To continue to benefit from the sustained growth of the aviation industry in the years to come, the company is investing in its expertise, industrial capacities and in future commercial and military engine concepts in Germany and worldwide. With the passion and innovative strength of its employees, MTU is shaping modern aviation – today, tomorrow and in the decades to come.

Media contact:

Martina Vollmuth
Press Officer Technology
+49 (0) 176-1001 7133
martina.vollmuth@mtu.de

SOURCE: MTU Aero Engines AG