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Electric aircraft has solar panel option

Electric aircraft has solar panel option

Business news |
By Nick Flaherty



French engineering giant Safran is supplying the powertrain and electronics for an eight seater all-electric aircraft that includes solar cells.

The eFlyer 800 being developed by Bye Aerospace in Denver, Colorado, with two wing-mounted electric motors, each with dual redundant motor windings, quad-redundant battery packs and a full airplane parachute. The battery electric aircraft will have a range of 500nm with a speed of 320 knots and 35,000 feet ceiling.

Additional potential features include emergency auto-landing system, intelligent algorithm ensuring envelope protection, terrain avoidance and routing for emergency auto-land, and also an option for supplemental power solar cells and in-wheel electric taxi.

The electric aircraft is set to use Safran’s ENGINeUS electric motors and GENeUSGRID electric distribution and network protection system.

“The eFlyer 800 is the first all-electric propulsion technology airplane that achieves twin-turboprop performance and safety with no CO2 and extremely low operating costs,” said George Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace. “This type of remarkable economy and performance is made possible by the electric propulsion system and advanced battery cell technology that results in significantly higher energy densities.”

“Safran product lines with the ENGINeUS motors, rated from 50kW to 500kW/1MW and GENeUSGRID systems, perfectly fit with the Bye Aerospace portfolio of e-aircraft,” said Hervé Blanc, Executive Vice President and General Manager Power with Safran Electrical & Power. “Building upon our successful cooperation on eFlyer2 and eFlyer4, we are very proud to bring our best expertise to support Bye Aerospace in the design of the new eFlyer 800.”  

Several aircraft are being developed with for European air-taxi, air-cargo and air charter services. “Details about those agreements will be announced soon, and as they are finalized,” said Blanc. 

https://byeaerospace.com; www.safran-group.com 

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