Update on Rolls-Royce ‘Spirit of Innovation’

Rolls-Royce has successfully completed the taxiing of its ‘Spirit of Innovation’ aircraft, the latest milestone on its journey to becoming the world’s fastest all-electric plane.

For the first time, the plane powered along a runway propelled by its powerful 500hp (400kw) electric powertrain and the latest energy storage technology developed to set world speed records and enable a new generation of urban air mobility concepts.  

The taxiing of the plane is a critical test of the integration of the aircraft’s propulsion system, ahead of actual flight-testing. The first flight is planned for the spring and when at full power the combination of electrical powertrain and advanced battery system will power the aircraft to more than 300mph, setting a new world speed record for electric flight.

The ACCEL programme, short for ‘Accelerating the Electrification of Flight’ includes key partners YASA, the electric motor and controller manufacturer, and aviation start-up Electroflight. The ACCEL team have continued to innovate while adhering to the UK Government’s social distancing and other health guidelines.

See BTN 28 September 2020 Electric Rolls-Royce

www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/accel.aspx

www.yasa.com    

www.electro-flight.com

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