by DRONELIFE Staff Author Ian J. McNabb
Ampaire, a California-based manufacturer of hybrid electric aircraft systems, recently announced that their Eelectric EEL demonstrator aircraft accomplished a 12-hour flight with over two hours of flight time remaining between battery stores and fuel reserves. Ampaire believes that this impressive result’s a brand new world record for hybrid electric flight endurance, showing the potential of its technology.
“Through this groundbreaking mission, Ampaire has shattered the standard boundaries of electrified flight, underscoring our relentless pursuit of transformative vehicle performance and business utility,” said Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker. “Our unique hybrid electric solutions deliver unparalleled operating economics and unlock endurance and operational flexibility critical to our customer’s needs. The indomitable spirit of innovation inside your entire Ampaire team propels us forward on this journey toward a sustainable future. It’s a testament to our lasting commitment to pioneering excellence.”
Having flown successful missions in Canada, California, Alaska and Arizona, Ampaire’s Cessna-based Electric EEL is used to show their unique AMP-H570 AMP Drive™ hybrid electric propulsion unit. The engine can also be in use of their Eco Caravan (an electrically-fuelled Cessna Grand Caravan) which features fuel savings of between 50% and 70% in comparison to traditional Pratt and Whitney PT6 turboprops and is currently the world’s largest electrically powered aircraft. Ampaire’s approach to advanced propulsion technology differs from many in the electrical aircraft space on account of their concentrate on retrofitting existing conventional aircraft, fairly than designing their very own discrete airframes, which is meant to hasten the adoption of electrical technology and make cleaner air power accessible to everybody. The hybrid element of the drive unit comes from a RED compression ignition engine rated for as much as 550hp, with the design’s peak power, battery, and charging system being provided by Ampaire.
Ampaire seeks FTC type certification of its Eco Caravan by 2024. More information on Ampaire and the Eelectric EEL is obtainable here.
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