Solar-Battery Electric Aircraft

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Germany's PC-Aero ultra light 400 lbs aircraft with 280 solar cells on its upper wing surface and 11.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It has a continuous engine power of 16 kW, and can carry a maximum payload of 220 lb at a cruising speed of 62 mph. The range is 300 miles or five hours.

http://www.gizmag.com/elektra-one-solar-alps/38431/

If the future aircraft is slightly larger and with 40-60kWh battery should have a range of more than 500 miles with maximum payload of 500 lbs. This will come within 5 years ?
 
It is slow. I think they just start to gather some experiences. To be commercially success the speed should be no less than 100 MPH, and it should caries 2 people and light luggage of about 500 lbs max.
 
Have you seen the Solar Impulse plane that is attempting to fly around the world right now without a drop of gasoline (all solar and battery)? Just crossed the Pacific Ocean in 118 hours non-stop. Currently in Hawaii and replacing the batteries as they overcharged and overheated.
SolarImpulse.jpg
 
I think stopping to replace faulty batteries nullifies the victory of flying around the world in a solar powered plane. Not to diminish the accomplishment, but it tells me we still have a ways to go. Maybe the experience gained will help the technology.
 
Originally Posted By: bvance554
I think stopping to replace faulty batteries nullifies the victory of flying around the world in a solar powered plane. Not to diminish the accomplishment, but it tells me we still have a ways to go. Maybe the experience gained will help the technology.


Im rather surprised if overcharge of the batteries is the issue. Reason being that any large Li-ion (or any chemistry really is becoming best practice) should have a battery management system, which should cut off charging when a cell gets too high. I wonder if they went without BMS to save weight? In reality because it also supports the balancing of the cells, it is important...
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
62 MPH is awful slow...


The Wright Flyer was MUCH slower than that. In 100 years I'm sure we will see solar powered aircraft. Presupposing that society remains intact.
 
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Have you seen the Solar Impulse plane that is attempting to fly around the world right now without a drop of gasoline (all solar and battery)? Just crossed the Pacific Ocean in 118 hours non-stop. Currently in Hawaii and replacing the batteries as they overcharged and overheated.

I know about this Solar Impulse 2, but pure solar aircraft is not commercially viable for many reasons.

This particular solar-battery aircraft can be improved(faster speed, higher payload, longer range) so that the next version can be sold to public.
 
Give it some time.

One possible application is satellite like communications but a lot cheaper.

The Wright Flyer mentioned above had a much more difficult start. It eventually killed almost ever pilot that ever flew one including killing the first ever passenger, Army Lieutenant Tom Selfridge in an Army acceptance test with no less than Orville Wright at the controls. It took almost a year of convalescence for Orville to recover from his injuries.
 
airships will make a comeback before we see commercial solar powered flight.

(that being said, the sattelite replacement is an interesting sideline)
 
Solar powered drones will be the communication and surveillance world of the future. Cheap and available, the key to success.

You can be notified immediately if you misbehave and receive instructions on the fly if your behavior is not acceptable.

You can also be accurately taxed for your travel and have your auto insurance premiums correctly updated along with being notified of any upcoming service on your automobile to keep your warranty in place and be correctly billed for your lease.
 
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
62 MPH is awful slow...


The Wright Flyer was MUCH slower than that. In 100 years I'm sure we will see solar powered aircraft. Presupposing that society remains intact.
100 YEARS!!!! Are they taking orders yet?
 
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Solar powered drones will be the communication and surveillance world of the future. Cheap and available, the key to success.

You can be notified immediately if you misbehave and receive instructions on the fly if your behavior is not acceptable.

You can also be accurately taxed for your travel and have your auto insurance premiums correctly updated along with being notified of any upcoming service on your automobile to keep your warranty in place and be correctly billed for your lease.
I can just imagine what the ole southern boys will say when told they're pushing the Hemi too hard.
 
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Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Give it some time.

One possible application is satellite like communications but a lot cheaper.

The Wright Flyer mentioned above had a much more difficult start. It eventually killed almost ever pilot that ever flew one including killing the first ever passenger, Army Lieutenant Tom Selfridge in an Army acceptance test with no less than Orville Wright at the controls. It took almost a year of convalescence for Orville to recover from his injuries.
Any landing you walk away from.... I wonder what the bush pilot version of that spider will look like. Why has the C 130 been in production for so long.... it doesn't bend easily.
 
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Originally Posted By: JHZR2
62 MPH is awful slow...


I watched Erik Lindbergh fly a similarly sized/similarly performing battery-electric aircraft at Sun-N-Fun in Florida. As most pilots know, aircraft take off into the wind, and this was no exception. The aircraft seemed to hover over the airport, taking too long, to reach crosswind. He flew the traffic pattern and then back over the runway, into the wind again. It's was painfully slow, and out of power rather rapidly.

What many people, including some pilots, don't know is that around 2 out of every 3 flights have a headwind component. Often rather substantial headwind components. This is because a direct crosswind causes an aircraft to yaw into the wind, and slows it down.

Aircraft so slow are, in essence, useless. It's common around here to have 20 to 40 knot headwinds. Sorry, but 20-40 MPH over the ground is pathetic.
 
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Originally Posted By: Cujet
What many people, including some pilots, don't know is that around 2 out of every 3 flights have a headwind component. Often rather substantial headwind components.


My FIL had to walk to school up hill both ways, so I hear you.
 
Originally Posted By: Cujet
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
62 MPH is awful slow...


I watched Erik Lindbergh fly a similarly sized/similarly performing battery-electric aircraft at Sun-N-Fun in Florida. As most pilots know, aircraft take off into the wind, and this was no exception. The aircraft seemed to hover over the airport, taking too long, to reach crosswind. He flew the traffic pattern and then back over the runway, into the wind again. It's was painfully slow, and out of power rather rapidly.

What many people, including some pilots, don't know is that around 2 out of every 3 flights have a headwind component. Often rather substantial headwind components. This is because a direct crosswind causes an aircraft to yaw into the wind, and slows it down.

Aircraft so slow are, in essence, useless. It's common around here to have 20 to 40 knot headwinds. Sorry, but 20-40 MPH over the ground is pathetic.

Lots of migratory birds cover a lot of ground at that speed, and it would be a heck of way to see the country, if you had the time. It would be kind of like aerial sailing.
Anyways its a step to develop and improve solar technology. If we ever get 80-90% efficient panels then maybe the commercial applications would open up?
 
A pure 100% solar-powered passenger airliner is physically impossible. It's just a matter of physics: There isn't enough energy in sunlight to power something that heavy and have it travel 350+ knots, which is the minimum speed you'd need to make it commercially viable.

If there comes a day when batteries can hold as much energy as jet fuel, then you could have a battery-powered airliner. But it wouldn't be running on solar

There might be limited applications for solar-powered aircraft like spy drones
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Cujet said:
JHZR2 said:
Lots of migratory birds cover a lot of ground at that speed


With some birds taking around 3 months to cover 1000 miles. Hummingbirds can fly as fast as 60MPH, but average around 30. They probably need to refuel as often as a battery aircraft would too.

Silly conclusion: a battery powered aircraft would take 2 months to go from Florida to NYC, including sleep and recharging time. Just like the birds.
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