WheelTug Is Rolling Into The Airline Industry

WheelTug CEO Isaiah Cox appeared on the set of CNBC's Squawk Box Wednesday morning for an interview on his company's new wheel system that may just disrupt the

industry. "We're making the airplane into a hybrid," said Cox. What is it? Instead of using the engines to drive the plane on the ground, the WheelTug system provides electrical power to small five-inch-wide electric motors within the wheels, sourced from a motor in the plane's tail. How powerful is it? It can move a nearly 200,000 pound airplane at 20 miles per hour. How effective it is? WheelTug believes that airplanes equipped with their systems can save airlines $700 for each flight, or $1.1 million per pane a year. He notes that airplane engines are extremely inefficient on while driving, burning thousands of pounds in fuel during ground travel.

:

The systems are free to airlines, including installation, and spare and replacement parts. "The works, in return for half the savings," said Cox about the offer. The airlines' savings are tracked by an SD card within the motor. So far, WheelTug has 537 orders from 11 different airlines. If airlines are unhappy, the WheelTug wheels can be returned. According to Cox, WheelTug's technology should be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration by the end of next year.