Hot on the latest Uber Elevate summit this month in Los Angeles, Pipistrel planned the unveiling of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft concept to the public.
The future of electric aviation seems so far off and yet so very close that I think the only possible similarity would be to compare it to the electric vehicle (EV) rebirth of 2008. But just as back then, how many get the importance of electric aviation and its most urgent breakthroughs?
We’ve been covering the development of the Sun Flyer electric airplane (e-plane) for quite some time now, and we are happy to report that its successful maiden test flight has been completed at the Centennial Airport near Denver, Colorado.
It’s hard to not bump into a story relating some sort of Siemens-supported electric vehicle (EV) these days. From trains to electric vehicle (EV) motors, the German international giant seems to be everywhere. When it comes to electric aircraft, Siemens seems particularly aggressive and ahead of the game, almost to the point of asking the question, is Siemens trying to corner the market and establish itself as the electric flight standard?
What actually changed in the electric vehicle world in Q1 2018? Here’s our rundown:
The Sun Flyer 2 is taking its final steps toward the inaugural first flight of its electric two-seat low-wing airplane. After a few successful taxi tests, Bye Aerospace is readying the Sun Flyer 2 to take to the skies.
It sounds as if the electric aviation news industry has somewhat tapered down, giving a chance for other competing electric mobility industries to make it into the limelight. But that doesn’t mean that the electric aviation industry is sitting idly either. In fact, Sion Power just announced a “breakthrough” in its Location Lithium battery chemistry.
The state-run Norwegian aviation firm Avinor — which runs 45 airports in Norway — is planning to embrace electric aircraft as soon as they hit the market, an exec has been quoted as saying.
Last we wrote about Larry Page and his research into the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) Kitty Hawk project, his electric flying bicycle was taking off, virtually. In the meantime, “Cora” is now evolving in the air, this time in New Zealand.
You have to hand it to the electric vehicle (EV) movement, because the open gates of creativity never cease to impress us. Case in point, these few examples of good old zany thinking and applying today’s technology to answer today’s needs.
