Elektra One Solar Plane Now Comes With its Own Photovoltaic Charging Trailer
Posted By Timon Singh On September 11, 2012 @ 1:40 pm In Green Transportation,Renewable Energy,Solar Power | No Comments
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SolarWorld [5] and PC-Aero [6]‘s Elektra One Solar Plane [4] harnesses energy from the sun to help it fly with zero-emissions. We covered the maiden flight of the solar plane [4] in the past, and Elektra One just debuted an awesome new accessory at the ILA Berlin Air Show – a mobile electric charging station that represents a major step forward for the the aircraft’s goals of zero emission flying and energy autonomy.
The carbon fiber Elektra One aircraft has solar cells on its wings [7] that help charge its electric engines during flight. The aircraft weighs just about 100 kg without its batteries and it is able to fly for approximately eight hours with a maximum range of approximately 1,000 kilometers at a speed of 100 kilometers/hour. Like the plane, the new mobile trailer is covered with photovoltaic cells – and it can be moved from site to site to help provide extra charging capacity for the Elektra One. With the trailer, the Elektra One’s batteries can be charged at a rate of 2 kW/hour.
While there are other solar aircraft, like the Solar Impulse [8], the Elektra One is designed more for pleasure gliding than for trans-continental travel. Plus it looks like James Bond’s mini jet from Octopussy [9] – which is a win in my book!
+ PC-Aero [7]
Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com
URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/elektra-one-solar-plane-now-comes-with-its-own-photovoltaic-charging-trailer/
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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/elektra-one-solar-plane-now-comes-with-its-own-photovoltaic-charging-trailer/
[4] Image: http://inhabitat.com/tag/pc-aero/
[5] SolarWorld: http://www.solarworld-usa.com/news-and-resources/news/elektra-one-solar-plane.aspx
[6] PC-Aero: http://inhabitat.com/solar-hangar-recharges-zero-emission-electric-airplane/
[7] carbon fiber Elektra One aircraft has solar cells on its wings: http://www.pc-aero.de/
[8] Solar Impulse: http://inhabitat.com/tag/solar-impulse/
[9] James Bond’s mini jet from Octopussy: http://airplanes-aircraft.knoji.com/the-jet-from-octopussy/
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