12 September 2017
Pipistrel, one of the world’s most innovative light aircraft companies, has developed a charging station for electric aeroplanes.
The Slovenian company worked with students from three universities on the project, which was officially launched on 30 August at the Pipistrel factory.
The Pipistrel team and students behind the new electric aircraft charging point. Top: a Pipistrel Alpha Electro training aircraft using the new charging station.
Pipistrel produces the €118,000 Alpha Electro electric light sport aircraft, which was the first aeroplane to use the charging station. The Alpha Electro is powered by a Siemens 85kW electric motor weighing 14kg, and has a 17kWh battery pack designed to be either quickly replaceable within minutes or charged in less than one hour.
The project was co-financed by Slovenia’s Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, and the European Union from the European Social Fund.
4 comments
Dear Sir/Madam:
Many thanks for such an interesting article on ‘Electric Aircraft Battery Charging Station’ and I would appreciate more info on this fascinating and forward thinking development for light aircraft. Please E-mail me with more info and I will ‘Credit’ the relevant organisation on publication within my book.
My thanks in anticipation. Yours aye, Liveryman Dr. JOHN McADAM, PhD, MA, BA(Hons), FRGS. [The Honourable Company of Air Pilots].
Please contact Pipistrel for more info: http://www.pipistrel.si/
This is good stuff.
Is there any development on combined electric charging and then solar charging while airborne in order to extend the flight endurance?
Exciting. Can you get these in the states?