Electric Powered Two-Man Airplane Sets Speedy Distance Record
- Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:06pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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A team of German researchers have set a new milestone for electric aviation after averaging more than 100 mph for a little more than two hours in the electric powered eGenius.
From Wired.com:
“The eGenius is essentially a motor glider with a high aspect ratio wing spanning more than 55 feet. A 60 kilowatt (80.5 horsepower) motor is mounted on the tail, allowing for a larger, more efficient propeller. Power is supplied by a 56 kilowatt-hour battery pack. The team didn’t say how much power it used during the flight, but said it still had juice in the pack upon landing.
Pilot and project leader Karl Kaeser took off with engineer Steffen Geinitz from their home base in Mindleheim, Germany. After climbing to 4,000 feet, the pair flew several laps between two nearby towns for a total of 211 miles. The average speed was just a shade over an impressive (for an electric aircraft) 100 mph. Not quite as fast as the record-setting electric Cri-Cri, but anything it lacks in speed it makes up for in range.
The eGenius project began in 2007 at the University of Stuttgart. A sponsorship from Airbus allowed the group to begin building the airplane in October. “
The University of Stuttgart team is preparing for the Green Flight Challenge. The contest rewards speed and endurance based on the number of people aboard. A top prize of $1.3 million is up for grabs.
Airbus has been the main sponsor for the eGenius team.
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BobParker2003
Posted on July 10, 2011 at 12:16pmAwesome!
Report Post »Jason Lanier
Posted on July 9, 2011 at 10:31amThis is cool I like electric anything.
Report Post »EyeQ
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 10:33pmI laud the Germans for the technical prowess in such areas. A older German fellow designed an electric motor that, when installed with the proper related parts, went to New York and back in a ‘64 Chevy Impala without any outside charging or assist. The car was equipped with a series of batteries and self-charging components. The crew of 2 stopped only to take care of personal needs. This took place in the early 80′s and originated from Las Vegas. I witnessed the running car with the proud owner. That was 30 years ago. Some anxious oil magnates made sure the car never went any farther. Too bad !!!
Report Post »Steev
Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:34pmI know about that, and iv’e had a few other revelations of that nature over the period of a few decades, which is why it was so suprising to find most of our Brethren was ( and to some degree still are ) asleep at the wheel ( no pun intended ) i can understand the young being unaware, they really never knew anything more than what thier i – phones would tell them IE : 30 years ago it was confirmed that a man had been able to design a carbureator that would deliver 90 m.p.g., I realize that communication was basically nothing then in comparison to what is nowadays but i am sure there are alot of new technologies or improved upon technolgies that through political posturing or monetary payout’s [ done on the sly ] are never revealed to the public ,
Report Post »Steev
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:54pmNOW, thats what i’m talking about – the bugs will be worked out of it – it will progress and evolve at an exponential rate and O – Bonehead & soreass can do nothing about – YET !
Report Post »Man-bearpigdogs
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 11:18amIf the greenies could channel plant life they would find out that CO2 is good for the environment, food for the plants and oxygen for us carbon based units.
Report Post »Man-bearpigdogs
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 11:15amHow about all electric vehicles MUST be recharged via solar?
Report Post »righthanddrive
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:30amAnother attempt by the greenies to control our lives. Of course, now everybody and his uncle (and me?) will want one. Then the greenies will stand up and say – congestion in the skies, you guys block the sun from my solar panels and we will all be brought down to earth. I’ll stay with a nice 2 seater like the new Bugatti porcelain version. (ha ha ha!!!).
Report Post »elphi43
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:00pmShort of a technological revelation, electric powered aircraft, cars, etc. will only be “green” novelties.
Report Post »Afungi
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 6:32pmWhat is bad, this plane is coal powered. There would be more CO2 produced to make the electric. 5% loss converting AC to DC. It takes 3 to 4 times the power to charge a battery than you get out. 80 hp electric motor is heavy 3 to 10 times heavier than a two stroke hang glider engine. Fuel for that engine about 5 to7 pounds per hour in gasoline. It would be more efficient carbon wise to use a two stroke injected engine run on hydrogen than to use an electric motor and battery. It take 15 time as but CO2 to fly this plane on coal electric than gasoline!
Report Post »yosemitefan
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:05pm@ AFUNGI
Excellent facts about the fallacy of electric vs gasoline etc…for the next 30 to 50 years fossil fuels are here to stay.
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:29pmYou still have to generate the electricity. They won’t build anymore nuclear power plants in Europe or in the Socialist States of America, so where are they going to get the power? All those inexpensive solar panels???
Report Post »Afungi
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 2:01pmI have flown hang gliders and powered gliders. This is a nice toy right up there with planes of 1908. Likely uses the same horse power. For all you greenes was it charged up from a coal or natural gas power plant?
Report Post »cntrlfrk
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:26pmI would take a gyro-copter that I could land in my back yard, or a parking lot at work.
Report Post »Dumpster Baby
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:43amThis is bad because it does not use fossil fuels.
Report Post »CaliUtah
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 3:25pmDon’t worry. The power plant burned coal to make the electricity to charge the battery. All of our electric devices actually run on fossil fuels.
Report Post »Ordie69
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:33pmOf course it uses fossil fuel, just indirectly. I don’t see any solar panels on that bird so they had to charge somewhere.
Report Post »Skee
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 11:29pmLook out Southwest,United and American. They’re gonna take away your business one passenger at a time. Literally. Please go to the bathroom before you board, our batteries are low.
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:29pmwow – a little over 200 miles. This has GOT to be for very short flights only….. can you imagine trying to fly 1000 miles, landing ever 200 miles to charge up? NO THANKS!
Report Post »Blacktooth
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 10:05pmMidwest,
Report Post »It is a glider. It is what it is, a glider with its own power source. If that is not what you want or need, then no problem, get what you want.
Can we imagine how quiet and peaceful it would be to fly that plane?
Tortilla
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 12:21pmWhy would you want to fly a 1000 miles? Who do you think you are, Buck Rogers?!
1TrueOne55
Posted on July 9, 2011 at 11:59amIf you combine the Technology of a Swiss project of Solar powered flight with this project for speed then you could fly 1K miles easily.
Report Post »SoCalConservative88
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:21pmCool, I want one!
Report Post »Blacktooth
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:13pmI really want one!
Report Post »Blacktooth
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:22pmI wonder how that propeller, if out of juice, would affect the glider’s capabilities?
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