{"id":11873,"date":"2018-08-15T23:01:30","date_gmt":"2018-08-16T06:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11873"},"modified":"2018-08-15T23:01:30","modified_gmt":"2018-08-16T06:01:30","slug":"pipistrel-leads-mahepa-european-hybrid-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/pipistrel-leads-mahepa-european-hybrid-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Pipistrel leads MAHEPA – European hybrid research"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aviation Week<\/em>\u2019s Graham Warwick reports,<\/a> \u201cEurope plans to develop and test modular hybrid-electric propulsion technology using light aircraft as testbeds, but it is also studying whether the system can be scaled up to power 19- and 70-seat commercial aircraft.\u00a0 The MAHEPA Program intends to bring cleaner skies to Europe.<\/p>\n

Pipistrel, the Slovenian winner of NASA\u2019s Green Flight Challenge in 2011, leads the 9 million euro ($10.4 million) program.\u00a0 Modular Hybrid Electric Propulsion Architecture (MAHEPA), funded as part of the European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 research program, will use real flight data to recommend how to reduce aviation carbon emissions 70-percent by 2050.<\/p>\n

Pipistrel will supply two well-tested aircraft for HAHEPA\u2019s continued investigation of lowering emissions and expanding performance capabilities.\u00a0 First, its Hypstair hybrid four-seater is already at a technology readiness level (TRL) of 4, and MAHEPA will raise that to 6, ready to enter product development.\u00a0 Second, its eight-year-old G4, the battery-powered winner of the Green Flight Challenge and now converted to the HY4 for its role in furthering hydrogen aviation will be converted once more to hybrid power.<\/p>\n