Green Taxi Aerospace Aims for FAA Certification of Electric Taxi System by 2027

Reviving the Electric Taxi: Green Taxi Aerospace Targets 2027 Certification

The aviation industry’s pursuit of emissions-free ground operations has received a renewed push. According to reporting by Leeham News, U.S.-based startup Green Taxi Aerospace (also known as Green Taxi Solutions) is advancing its “Zero Engine Taxi” system, with a firm target to achieve FAA certification by 2027. The company is initially focusing its retrofit solution on the Embraer E175 regional jet, a strategic move designed to capitalize on the high-frequency nature of regional aviation.

While the concept of electric taxiing, moving aircraft on the ground without using main engines, has existed for over a decade, previous attempts have struggled with weight penalties and commercial viability. Green Taxi Aerospace claims to have solved these engineering hurdles, backed by significant partnerships with Delta Air Lines, Embraer, and StandardAero.

Technical Breakthroughs and Weight Reduction

The core of the Green Taxi system involves installing electric motors inside the aircraft’s main landing gear wheels. These motors are powered by the aircraft’s existing Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), allowing the pilot to control speed and direction from the cockpit without engaging the main jet engines.

According to the Leeham News report, a critical differentiator for Green Taxi is the dramatic reduction in system weight compared to legacy attempts. Early iterations of electric taxi systems, such as the now-cancelled Safran/Honeywell EGTS project from 2013, added approximately 1,000 pounds to the airframe. This weight penalty often negated fuel savings during flight.

In contrast, Green Taxi CEO David Valaer, a former F-16 pilot, emphasized the advancements in modern power electronics.

“Ten years ago, the system weight was significantly heavier… ours weighs 20 pounds [referring to electronics].”

— David Valaer, via Leeham News

By driving the main landing gear rather than the nose wheel, the system also aims to provide superior traction, particularly in adverse weather conditions like snow or ice.

Strategic Partnerships and Funding

Green Taxi Aerospace has secured high-profile industry support to validate its technology. Leeham News notes that Delta Air Lines is providing operational data and testing support through its “Sustainable Skies Lab.” Additionally, the company has partnered with Embraer for technical validation on the E175 airframe and StandardAero to lead the certification process.

Financial backing for the development includes a $5.6 million grant from the FAA’s Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) program, highlighting federal interest in technologies that reduce airport noise and carbon footprints.

The Business Case for Regional Jets

The company argues that regional jets represent the ideal launch market. Because aircraft like the E175 perform frequent short-haul flights, they spend a higher percentage of their operating time taxiing compared to long-haul widebody aircraft. Green Taxi projects the following operational benefits:

• Fuel Savings: A 5–20% reduction in fuel burn for short-haul flights.
• Cost Efficiency: Estimated savings of $250,000 to $350,000 per aircraft annually.
• Maintenance: Reduced wear on carbon brakes and lower risk of foreign object damage (FOD) to engines.

AirPro News Analysis

Why the “Main Gear” Approach Matters

We observe that Green Taxi’s decision to power the main landing gear, rather than the nose wheel, addresses a specific physics challenge that plagued competitors like WheelTug. The main gear carries approximately 90% of an aircraft’s weight. By applying torque there, the aircraft maintains better traction on wet or icy ramps, a critical requirement for airlines operating in winter climates. Furthermore, by targeting the retrofit market rather than waiting for new aircraft designs, Green Taxi opens an immediate addressable market of thousands of existing regional jets.

Timeline and Competitive Landscape

According to the timeline outlined in the report, Green Taxi plans to submit its certification plan to the FAA in late 2025, with a conforming prototype scheduled for assembly by mid-2026. If successful, the 2027 certification would place them ahead of other stalled initiatives.

The sector has seen high-profile failures, notably the Safran/Honeywell joint venture which ended in 2016 due to the aforementioned weight issues. Another competitor, WheelTug, utilizes a nose-wheel drive system but has faced repeated certification delays. Green Taxi aims to succeed by leveraging lighter modern electronics and a focus on regional aviation economics.

Sources

• Leeham News