Today's modern jet liners can burn hundreds of pounds of fuel, and this is just from the boarding gate to the runway. Basically, tons of fuel are wasted every year and more than $1.1 billion in added operating expenses. A new wheel however, intends to save airlines all that fuel.

Dubbed the WheelTug e-taxi system, it was developed by Borealis Exploration Limited and is a nosewheel mounted, induction notorized ground propulsion system. It measures less than five inches in width and weighs 300 pounds and produces enough force to push a 200,000 pound A320 around a tarmac.

The wheels are powered by the aircraft's APU (auxiliary power unit) and flight crew only need to rev up the main engines upon take-off. That saves time, fuel, maintenance and more importantly, a ton of money.

"The idea of putting an on-board electric drive system on aircraft is not new, since there are so many clear advantages," Isaiah Cox, WheelTug President and CEO, said in a press statement. "But until recently there was no electric motor technology with the capability to produce the required high torque for its small size, weight and safety profile to make it possible."



"We believe on-board electric motors have a great many advantages," added Bob Carman, Chorus Motors' former WheelTug program manager. "They could reduce the need for ground tugs and their associated costs, allow faster flight turnarounds and increased fuel efficiency per trip, and reduce airplane noise and emissions at airports, to name just a few advantages."

[Wiki - Flight Global - Boeing]