Electric Motors and Controllers for Use in ... - CAFE Foundation

Flight Design and Rotax collaborated to produce this motor for this year’s Aero 2009 E-
Fli Flight ht Expo. E It i is iinstalled t ll d on a CTS light li ht sport t aircraft. i ft
“Flight Design GmbH, the German creators of the popular CT line of light sport aircraft,
used AERO Friedrichshafen to announce details of their work on a new hybrid engine
concept. The propulsion package consists of a standard Rotax 914 turbocharged engine to
which is mated a 40-hp (30 kW) electric motor. The electric motor is coupled to the
propeller hub using a poly-V-belt drive that has no overloading impact on the crankshaft
and, thus, allows the motor to transmit its power directly to the point where it's needed.
Since the basic Rotax is left mostly y untouched, its 130-hp poutput, p combined with the electric
motor's 40 hp, provide for a combined 170-hp output for the hybrid. The electric motor will
be used for takeoffs and climbs, and makes use of its full capacity over a maximum fiveminute
span. In cruise, power comes entirely from running the gas engine at full power.
Twenty minutes is required for a full recharge on the 25 kilos of lithium ion batteries that
power the electric motor.
“One of the features being touted by Flight Design is the added safety inherent with a
hybrid. Should there be a failure of the combustion engine, power from the electric motor
can supplant a stopped engine and provide sufficient thrust to stretch the aircraft aircraft's s glide to
an emergency landing. Flight Design expects to begin flight testing of its hybrid in one of
its existing aircraft by the middle of 2009.”
San Carlos, April 24, 2009
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FlightDesignHybridAero_200078-1.html
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