An electric car last week
The power light aircraft circled over the vineyards of Bordeaux, France.
Just a small one, two.
But the technology that makes flight possible could lead to a new hybrid.
One day, you may use cleaner, greener power when you board a plane for your vacation.
Called the E-
Fan, quiet, smooth carbon
Fiber aircraft is a product of French aircraft Airbus. maker. With two 65-
Kg lithium battery hidden in the wings, each battery drives 30-
Electric Motor, electric motor
The fan cruises at a speed of 185 kilometers per hour, flying for one hour.
While it won't win any speed or endurance awards, this is the first step in the development project that could lead to larger electric aircraft-the next generation, high-end aircraftpower lithium-
Air battery and super motor.
When Airbus's rival Boeing makes and drives an electric fuelcell-
Airbus said the electric light aircraft in 2007
Fans are more than just a research project.
Starting from 2017, VoltAir, a new division of Airbus, will produce and sell electronic products
Van said Jean Botti, chief technology officer of Airbus Group, said they sell pilot training aircraft and glider trailers in Cessna-led markets.
Subsequent mixed versions of E-
Fans of Two Plus Four
Seat version-will use a small engine to charge the battery during flight so it can stay in the air for three-and-a-half hours.
But the hybrid is the ultimate reward. “The E-
Fan is just the predecessor of a larger regional airliner, "Botti said.
In an E-
Airbus's goal is to produce a hybrid aircraft with 80 seats to handle regional city jumps-a Toyota Prius if you want.
Airbus's goal is to build a hybrid aircraft with 80 seats-if you like Boeing as well, it's a sky plane with Toyota Prius, working with NASA on the design of a hybrid aircraft-research that can accommodate up to 150 people-although its plan is a bit far away.
Asked about the testing of the company's 2007 light aircraft, a spokesman said: "The results of the experimental project are undergoing further analysis . ".
Instead, Boeing is focusing on testing other emissions-
The idea of reducing 787 aircraft.
Airbus is stepping up.
It plans to use a volume
Jet engine at E-Royce
Thrust-instead of generating thrust, power is generated.
This will continue to charge the battery pack consisting of six propellers.
But the challenge started with two people. Seats 80-
'The seats are profound, 'says Botti & colon; while the E-
The fan offers 60 KW with two motors
The thrust needs a total of 4 MW, that is, 670 KW per unit of 6 motors.
Botti says this will involve extremely high currents, so a new generation of electrical wiring, connectors, and electronic equipment is required.
At the Airbus laboratory in Munich, Germany, motor experts from Siemens are helping Airbus to develop conductor utilization methods for cable and motor windings.
Siemens wants to apply some techniques to hyper-
Efficient wind turbines.
"There are similarities," Botti said . ".
"But unlike wind farms, we have to safely face gravity.
Delia Dimitriu, who studies the impact of aviation on the environment at Manchester City University in the UK, said that as long as Airbus uses renewable energy on the ground to charge the battery, the technology has taken a "positive step forward" and by 2050 air emissions will reach 2000.