HILLSBORO, Ore., 25 July 2011. Electra One—a zero-emissions electric aircraft from SolarWorld, a solar panel manufacturer in Oregon, and PC Aero in Germany—is making its U.S. debut at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 in Oshkosh, Wis. The electric aircraft takes advantage of SolarWorld photovoltaic cells and solar panels, as well as a solar-charging hangar.
PC Aero CEO Calin Gologan will outline his vision of electric flight, including in a talk at the SolarWorld-sponsored World Electric Aircraft Symposium on Friday, July 29.
Elektra One will be on display in AirVenture’s Innovation Hangar, and it is expected to fly midday Wednesday, July 27.
The single-seat Elektra One is designed to achieve more than three hours of flight and a range of more than 250 miles, as well as a cruising speed of more than 100 mph. Elektra One is nearly silent; boasts 1,400 propeller rotations a minute at cruising altitudes; weighs 440 pounds, including battery; and can carry a payload of up to 220 pounds, including the pilot.
“Elektra One is emblematic of a future in mobility that relies on efficient and environmentally sound electric vehicles,” says Frank Asbeck, CEO of SolarWorld. “We need to stop depending on fossil fuels--and their dirty, noisy use of scarce resources--to get from one place to another. Solar power, abundant and pervasive, is the obvious choice for travel in the skies.”
SolarWorld and PC Aero are also collaborating on a new aviation filling station and hangar fitted with the company’s high-performance solar panels to service small aircraft, including the Elektra One, which also will bear SolarWorld photovoltaic cells to extend its range up to 30 percent.
The Elektra One made its maiden flight in Augsburg, Germany, in March, at the same time thate Gologan’s vision of marrying the electric aircraft with a solar-charging hangar was conceptually demonstrated.
PC Aero will begin taking orders for the aircraft in Europe and the U.S. in 2012. Gologan expects to price the complete system, including a solar-equipped airplane and a hangar, at roughly $145,000 (100,000 euro).
