{"id":11609,"date":"2017-09-28T14:09:03","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T21:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11609"},"modified":"2017-09-28T14:09:03","modified_gmt":"2017-09-28T21:09:03","slug":"a-range-extender-you-can-ride-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/a-range-extender-you-can-ride-home\/","title":{"rendered":"A Range Extender You Can Ride Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Range extenders make any airplane to which they are attached a hybrid aircraft, with an engine-driven generator charging batteries or driving one or more electric motors that provide thrust.\u00a0 Speaking today at the 7th<\/sup> EASN International Conference on Innovation in European Aeronautics Research, Richard Glassock, a Fellow at the Institute of Aerospace Technology at the University of Nottingham, gave the range extender a completely new mission.<\/p>\n

His innovation comes in two versions, the RExLite and RExMoto.\u00a0 RExLite is a simple generator drive that mounts under the aircraft.\u00a0 RExMoto looks similar \u2013 a streamlined pod under the aircraft \u2013 but can be converted to a motorcycle when on the ground.\u00a0 Both \u201cuse conventionally-fueled combustion-engine-driven electrical generators to provide energy at peak efficiency and minimum emissions, effectively converting the All-Electric to a Hybrid Electric aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n

RExLite Range Extender<\/strong><\/h4>\n

RExLite manages to contain a 40 kilowatt (53.6 hp.) engine-generator in the 60 kilogram (132 pound \u2013 depending on fuel load) pod.\u00a0 According to Richard\u2019s Conference paper, \u201cThis will allow the range and endurance for small 2-seat all-electric aircraft to become comparable to conventional combustion engine types in cross-country range with a single person onboard. For local area and circuit flying of 2-seat all-electric types with a passenger onboard, the extra endurance and redundancy will allow comparable flight times without anxiety about battery state of charge and recharging considerations.\u201d \u00a0For larger aircraft or even greater range, two pods could be mounted, possibly making the airplane look like a WWII fighter on a long-range escort mission.<\/p>\n

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Light Sport Aircraft with RExLite range extended attached.\u00a0 Compact size and low mass could allow mounting more than one pod<\/p><\/div>\n

RExMoto \u2013 Extending Range to That Last Mile<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Richard notes that cross-country flights can often end at an inconvenient location with limited options for getting to the nearest restaurant or motel.\u00a0 The recent eclipse, for instance, lured hundreds of private pilots<\/a> to the Madras, Oregon Municipal Airport, three miles northwest of the small town\u2019s center.\u00a0 With limited taxi service and no rental cars on the field, this would be a hot, dusty hike on a summer day.\u00a0 The utility of aircraft is severely compromised by such circumstances.<\/p>\n