Electric Aircraft

Although still in their infancy, electric aircraft are now a reality with examples having flown in France, Germany, Japan, China, and the USA. Unreliable sources and fluctuating prices of oil supplies will continue to threaten access to aviation fuel, driving electric aircraft development. The following are some examples of emerging electric aircraft technology.

The Antares 20E is an electric self-launching sailplane with lithium- ion batteries powering a retractable 42-kilowatt electric motor. When fully charged, the electric motor driving a twin-blade propeller can take the Antares to an altitude of about 3000 meters. The batteries on the Antares can deliver maximum power for 13 minutes, and a charger integrated within the fuselage allows hooking up to any electrical outlet. The Antares 20E is made in Germany by Lange Aviation Gmbh, which has built over 50 of them.

Another German company by the name of PC-Aero has an electric single-seat aircraft design now flying named
ElektraOne. With this aircraft made of light composite material, PC-Aero is projecting about three hours flying time for a range of over 400 Kilometers.

In December 2007 the APAME Electra took to the air from a French airfield. A conventional monoplane taildragger with a motor and propeller in front, the Electra was flown for 48 minutes covering 31 miles powered by lithium-polymer batteries. APAME is a French association promoting electric aircraft development.

In France, an EADS project involves an existing single seat homebuilt aircraft design named Cri-Cri. Originally powered by two gasoline motors, it is now powered by 4 small electric motors mounted in two pods. The Cri-Cri the smallest electric aircraft flying.

In 2009 the Italian SkySpark company flew an electric aircraft with a 75-kilowatt motor powered by lithium-polymer batteries to a speed record of 250 kilometers an hour. This aircraft is a modified Pioneer Alpi 300.The Alatus motor glider, which is built in Ukraine, is offered with an electric motor by Electravia of France.

In Japan, experimenting with electric powered gliders has continued since the 1960s. In 2006 a Tokyo University project built an electric glider with 160 A-A flashlight batteries, managing to stay aloft for about a minute.

In the USA Electric Aircraft Corporation, better known as Electraflyer, has been building an electric hang glider called the Trike since 2007. The Trike has a metal frame with 3 wheels surrounding the pilot, powered by a rear mounted electric motor driving a pusher propeller.Electraflyer is also testing the C single-seat monoplane based on the Moni motor glider design. Billed as the first practical electric airplane, The C is powered by an 18-horsepower electric motor with a lithium-ion polymer battery. Future plans at Electraflyer involve production of the X, a two-seat monoplane with tricycle gear and long sailplane-like wings. The X is made of composite materials and powered by a liquid-cooled electric motor.

Sonex is a kit plane builder based in Oshkosh, Winconsin, which has modified one of their Waiex kit planes to electric power. The electric Sonex took to the air in December 2010 with a 54-kilowatt electric motor powered by a lithium-polymer battery. The largest light plane maker in the USA, Cessna Aircraft Corporation is planning to convert
one of their popular Cessna 172s to electric power.

The Chinese Yuneec E430 electric aircraft is being advertised as the first electric aircraft in production. The E430 is also somewhat similar to the Electraflyer X, but differs in having a V tail. Yuneec claims a 3 hour charging time plus one and a half to 3 hour flying time. The 54-horsepower electric motor comes with a battery pack having a service life of 3000 hours. The E430 is undergoing FAA certification and will be promoted to flight schools.

Some design configurations combining solar power with electric motors have been tried in both manned and unmanned aircraft. Powered gliders with electric motors are also flying, including one which harnesses thermal energy. Engineers are now envisioning a commercial airliner with an electric jet hybrid layout in about two decades.