New 100kW superconducting motor paves way for future electric propulsion aircraft

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde, backed by Airbus, have built a working 100kW superconducting motor that could make zero-emission commercial flight possible. By cooling specialized materials to near absolute zero, the motor eliminates electrical resistance, achieving a power-to-weight ratio conventional motors cannot match. Airbus plans to use liquid hydrogen as both fuel and coolant, solving two problems at once. Scaling to megawatt-class systems is next.