The BBC has been to a symposium on electric aircraft held (where else) in the Bay Area. There are interesting developments afoot:
But there is no reason to wait for Boeing’s hybrid vehicle according to a Slovenian company called Pipistrel. By the end of the year it plans to deliver the world’s first commercially produced, two seater electric aircraft to customers.
Their Taurus Electro can climb to 6,000 feet after taking off using a 30-kilowatt motor.
Recharging the glider’s lithium-polymer battery is meant to take about as long as charging a cell phone. And weather permitting, the glider can travel 1,000 miles a day.
Now if only the thing didn’t cost a minimum of $132,000 for a basic model. Not to mention presumably requiring a pilot’s license to operate. I’m not even going to ask where in the City you would land it.
It may or may not require a pilot’s license, depending on your country. Also, some countries might not require a “full” license for it, but only a microlight or glider license which- again, in some countries, are all different categories.
As for the price, it is cheap for a powered airplane, over-the-top expensive for a glider. While he range is impressive, it is also a s l o w vehicle, not suitable for any high altitude and not something I would risk in anything but perfect weather.
A fine start to a technology class, though.
But the technology is electric planes. Moeller makes the only flying car- and a fascinating story that company is, having been around in one form or another since, if I recall correctly, 1968!
But I already have a flying car… tattooed right here on my leg!