Wright Brothers Cleantech Redux - the ElectraFlyer

August 07, 2008

First lift off at Kitty Hawk was 1903 and within a few years the Wright Flyer could take to the air, and remain in flight with less drama. One hundred years later, a very lightweight plane from the Electric Aircraft Corporation called the ElectroFlyer-C is making some remarkable achievements of its own. Most notably, featuring an 80 pound, 5.6 kWh lithium polymer battery, this all electric plane:

• Cruises at 70 miles per hour
• Has a top speed of 90 mph
• Goes 90 to 120 minutes on a charge
• Recharges in 6 hours from a 110V outlet and in 2 hours with a 220V source

It may seem like an infinitely long path before passenger and transport planes can go electric, but remember what the original Wright Flyer looked like, and how fast we progressed to the planes of WWI, WWII, jets, etc. The electric planes of 2008 are light years ahead of where the Wrights were with gas power in 1908, so I wouldn't count electric planes out just because the first prototypes can't go head-to-head with the F-35 ... or 787.

Also:  be on the lookout for an all electric planes from another Wisconsin company: Sonex
Aircraft LLC and others. One thing we can say with confidence, however. For the next few years, no fat pilots need apply!

Photo courtesy of the Electric Aircraft Corporation