Like the automotive industry, the aviation industry was also experiencing a stagnation in development. But now exactly like the automotive industry, the aviation industry is experiencing a transformative shift towards sustainability, with electric planes emerging as frontrunners in this eco-conscious revolution.
From solar-powered marvels to innovative hybrid designs, electric aircraft are redefining the possibilities of flight, offering not only reduced carbon emissions but also promising advancements in efficiency and performance. In this article, we’ll explore 10 remarkable electric planes leading the charge towards a cleaner and greener future in aviation.
#1. Solar Impulse 2
In 2016 Solar Impulse 2 touched down in Abu Dhabi to the excitement of onlookers and cameras because the aircraft had completed a feat that was unexpected for a solar aircraft. The Solar Impulse 2 Flew 550 hours covering 25,000 miles in 14 months over four continents, two oceans, and three seas without using any liquid fuel. The only power for the aircraft came from the bright rays of the sun.
The Solar Impulse is the brainchild of Bertrand Piccard with the help of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He partnered with André Borschberg who was a businessman and engineer with prior experience as a pilot in the Swiss Air Force.
The end product is undoubtedly an engineering marvel. The plane weighs around 5,000 pounds, which is equivalent to an average family vehicle, yet it has a wingspan wider than a B-747 jumbo jet.
Covering the fragile wings and fuselage are an astounding 17,248 photovoltaic solar cells, each about the thickness of a human hair. The plane’s four lithium batteries are charged by these solar-powered cells, which enable the propellers to continue spinning throughout the gloomy nighttime hours.
#2. Airbus E-Fan
Airbus is the biggest aircraft manufacturer in Europe. Airbus generated €58.8 billion (US$65 billion) in revenue in 2022 and has a workforce of over 134,000 people.
Airbus is also trying out various electric aircraft designs to reduce its carbon footprint. The hybrid-electric Airbus E-Fan aircraft, which was introduced in 2017 is a significant initiatives of Airbus’ decarbonisation effort. The industry’s widespread adoption of alternative-propulsion commercial aircraft has been sparked by the first-ever serial hybrid-electric propulsion system.
Airbus’s intention when launching the E-Fan X demonstration in 2017 was to test the technologies that will contribute to the decarbonisation of skies. One of the four jet engines of the test aircraft was replaced with a 2 MW electric motor.
The company believes that using hybrid electricity can cut CO2 emissions from aeroplanes by as much as 5%. In the case of helicopters, which are typically lighter than fixed-wing aircraft, that percentage may reach 10%. To achieve hybridization, which is a significant step in the aerospace sector’s decarbonisation process, Airbus is spearheading a cross-industry initiative.
#3. Solar Flight Sunseeker Duo
The third solar-powered aircraft built by Solar Flight, Solar Flight Sunseeker Duo is another solar-powered aircraft. Despite having a wingspan of almost 22 meters, the Sunseeker Duo can be folded up and stowed in a hangar of a reasonable size. It disassembles easily and fits neatly into a trailer.
Eric Raymond, one of the plane’s designers, has a great deal of expertise with solar-powered flight. His skills were applied to the design of Solar Impulse’s aircraft and the solar-powered Lockheed HALE-D aircraft. Since establishing Solar Flight in 1986, he has created some solar-powered aeroplanes.
Moving on to the specifications, the Sunseeker Duo has a 22-meter wingspan, weighs 280 kg empty, and has 1510 solar cells with an efficiency of 23%. The aircraft can run entirely on solar energy.
#4. Cessna Grand Caravan EX
Cessna Grand Caravan EX has won the hearts of regional airlines, charter providers, and freight carriers all due to the dependability and efficiency of Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft. Because of its higher speed and capacity to ascend, it is intended for big payloads and short runways.
The Grand Caravan® EX aircraft has a low direct operating cost and can accommodate up to 14 passengers while producing 867 horsepower. Also, you can select the configuration according to your needs and applications.
#5. Lange Antares 23, Lange Aviation
High-end electric propulsion system development is Lange Aviation’s area of expertise. Composite materials are used in the construction of the Antares 23 to provide low weight and aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft also has a 23-meter wingspan and a cockpit with control interfaces for safe flight and contemporary navigation systems. Furthermore, the glider may take off without a tow plane using its retractable engine.
#6. CityAirbus
CityAirBus is an eVTOL model from Airbus. As part of its distributed propulsion system, City Airbus is equipped with eight electric-powered propellers, a V-shaped tail, and fixed wings, among other cutting-edge design features.
According to Airbus, urban and advanced mobility may be moved into the sky to provide communities with additional ways to reach their destination. The aircraft is built for silent flying and usage in urban settings.
The Cityairbus technology demonstration is a full-scale, autonomous piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle intended for urban air mobility that can accommodate several passengers
Eight specially built Siemens (now Rolls-Royce) SP200D direct-drive 100 kW units, which are fueled by four 140 kW batteries produced by Airbus Defence and Space division, power the eight-pitch rotors. The CityAirbus can accommodate four passengers and has a cruising speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph. The model will currently be able to fly for fifteen minutes.
Airbus intends to produce large quantities at a cheap cost per unit. The CityAirbus was created with environmental sustainability in mind. A pilot will be controlling the first commercial flights, enabling entrance into the market before laws or air traffic control systems are modified to accommodate massive autonomous vehicles.
The eVTOL will switch to a pilotless system as soon as these rules are implemented. The plane is designed to fly on fixed routes that connect important transit hubs, such as downtown, to an airport or seaport.
#7. MacCready Solar Challenger By AeroVironment
To satisfy the demands of both military and commercial clients, AeroVironment has dedicated itself for the past 50 years to creative design and straightforward solutions. The company’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia and manufactures aeroplanes using cutting-edge technology such as robots, sensors, software analytics etc.
Piloted by aviation expert Paul MacCready, the MacCready Solar Challenger accomplished a manned solar-powered flight across the English Channel in 1981.
The world record for the highest, farthest, and longest solar-powered manned flight is currently held by the Solar Challenger. With pilot Stephen Ptacek at the controls, the Solar Challenger completed its 163-mile journey on July 7, 1981, from Corneille-en-Verin Airport, north of Paris, France, to Manston Royal Air Force Base in Manston, United Kingdom.
The mission took 5 hours and 23 minutes in the air. Constructed as a showcase for solar energy and cutting-edge composite building materials. With a 9-g ultimate load factor in mind, the entire airframe, including the solar propulsion system, weighed a mere 205 pounds.
The company has a legacy of 50 years and continues building advanced technologies like wing-flapping drones and pseudo satellites. We can expect more from the company.
#8. Lange Antares 20E
The 20E is a high-performance, self-launching sailplane that is another Antares offering. Once more, the aircraft is manufactured using composite materials to save weight. The electric self-launching sailplane Antares 20E is produced by Lange Aviation in Germany.
The shining white ship, which is 20 metres (65.6 feet) long, features the fluidity of line and purity of form that one would anticipate from Gerhard Waibel, the man who designed the ‘W’ in Alexander Schleicher’s ASW sailplanes.
The 42 kilowatt (57 horsepower) motor, neatly tucked into a bay behind the pilot and mounted on a carbon-fibre mast by a smooth electric/hydraulic process, is the remarkable element that makes this particular long-span ship stand out.
The motor is a cylindrical device whose outer shell revolves around a hub that is fixed to the mast. When the revolving cylinder is at its maximum loaded weight of 1,455 pounds, the 460 kilogrammes (1,014 pounds) ship can rise at a pace of 4.4 metres per second (866 feet per minute) thanks to the two carbon-fibre propeller blades that are attached to exquisitely machined fittings on the cylinder.
A little over 11 minutes may be spent at maximum power climbing 3,000 metres (9,850 feet) thanks to SAFT batteries hidden in the wing roots.
#9. NASA X-57 Maxwell
To promote approval for electric propulsion in the electric aircraft industry, the X-57 “Maxwell,” NASA’s first all-electric aircraft, sometimes referred to as an X-plane, intends to share the aircraft’s electric-propulsion-focused design with regulators.
A 500% increase in high-speed cruise efficiency, zero carbon emissions during flight, and significantly quieter flying are some of the expected benefits.
The Italian aircraft company Tecnam’s P2006T which is a twin-engined aircraft is the basis for the X-57. NASA updated the P2006T with a bigger motor on each wingtip and an array of six electric motors on each leading edge of the high-winged aircraft to test battery-powered electric propulsion.
According to NASA, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will power the X-57’s electric motor, making it more dependable and efficient. Moreover, since there won’t be any fuel to burn, there won’t be any greenhouse gas emissions, which lowers the aircraft’s operational costs dramatically.
During takeoff, the 12 tiny motors on the wings will be utilised for propulsion. However, once the aircraft achieves altitude and starts flying, the bigger wingtip motors are employed for propulsion since the small motors’ propellers fold inward to reduce drag.
#10. Taurus Electro, Pipistrel
Ivo Boscarol, the CEO of Pipistrel, is ranked as the tenth richest Slovenian and was included in the list of the most powerful Europeans in 2015. Ivo and the Pipistrel team created the Taurus Electro, the first electric two-seat aircraft in history.
With a maximum cruising speed of 82 knots and 35 kW of power, the aircraft provides a roomy and cosy interior but the view is somewhat compromised. The aircraft outperforms its gasoline-powered counterpart at high altitudes, can climb swiftly, and can operate on a shorter runway.
It features an “on” and “off” button. The engine retracts and the aircraft turns into a sailplane when it reaches 2,000 metres in the air. With an hourly maintenance cost of about 70 cents, it is up to 10 times less expensive than its competitors.
Conclusion
From solar-powered voyages to electric urban air mobility, the landscape of aviation is undergoing a profound transformation driven by sustainability and innovation even though the pace is a bit low. With electric planes leading the charge, the future of flight promises cleaner skies and boundless possibilities for exploration and transportation.
As technology continues to evolve, electric aircraft will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of aviation for generations to come.
As you can see in the above examples, the initial designs powered by solar energy had to depend upon the natural weather to a great extent and utilise the energy lines.
The long wingspan and the lighter weight might question the safety of the aircraft since a small deviation in the angle might cause the spinning of the aircraft. These issues can be dealt with with modern technologies and effective utilisation of AI in the simulation software. Let us integrate various disciplines of engineering to achieve a clearer sky.
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