ELECTRIC Flight is now a reality … and for as little as $1.80 per hour

Cheap Electric Air Flight is On the Way

Ok, so we know that electric vehicles are about to take over the world, and the New Zealand Electric Vehicle Buyers Guideshows that there are now 20 models to choose from, starting at $15,000 for a Nissan Leaf on Trademe!

But who would have thought that Electric Flight is taking off at a rapid pace as well, making it more affordable for more people.

Featuring a maximum 1 hour fly time, plus 30 minutes reserve, at gentle cruising speed, the Pipistel Electro is designed specifically for flight training.

The batteries can be charged in 1 – 2 hours depending on the state of charge, or swapped out within minutes with another set of batteries. With up to 10 kwh of battery storage that weighs only 55 kgs, that’s about the same energy storage as a Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid, impressive.

Based on 18 cents per kWh that’s as little as $1.80 in electricity costs per hour …. and zero emissions. Similar to electric vehicles, servicing costs are also expected to be substantially less as well.

Take a look at the sleek looking Panthera which they have under development, bring it on we say.

Red Bull Racing

Electro Flight are not far off testing a pure electric Red Bull that can climb about as vertical as you would want to get.

The plane will have so many other advantages like counter rotating blades that operate more like a mini jet engine, and have higher torque figures than their av-gas cousins.

Flight time will be limited to 25 minutes, plenty of time to run a pass through the course, but not quite enough to get you from Whangarei to Invercargill.

Check out the Fully Charged show for a full run down.

What Does the Future Hold?

The beauty of electric flight is that all manner of combinations are becoming more attainable, which will drop aviation emissions like a stone.

We thought we’d leave you with this amazing NASA concept, which is half helicopter and half plane.

The test model is full electric, but the full life version is tipped to be a flying hybrid.

So, the next time you jump on a domestic flight, just imagine what it could like in the not too distant future.

Faster, Cheaper, Quieter and potentially Emission Free.

That’s progress.