Rolls Royce’ fully electric ‘Spirit of Innovation’ aircraft has surpassed existing speed records, setting three new world records for fastest electric aircraft in the world.
The company submitted details of the runs to Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world air sports federation that deals with certification of world’s top aeronautical and astronautical records.
Shedding light on details, the first record incorporated into the data highlights a speed of 555.9 km/h or 345.4 mph recorded by the all-electric vehicle over three kilometers, exceeding the existing record by 213.04 km/h or 132 mph.
During the next runs at the experimental aircraft testing site governed by the UK Ministry of Defense called Boscombe Down, the aircraft reached a top speed of 532.1km/h (330mph) over 15 kilometers, surpassing previous records by 292.8km/h (182 mph).
The electrically operated aircraft smashed the fastest time to ascend to 3,000 meters, recording a time of 202 seconds, faster by 60 seconds.
Rolls Royce now awaits the certification from FAI to officially confirm the teams accomplishments.
In addition to the record-breaking runs, the aircraft achieved maximum speed of 623 km/h (387.4 mph), rendering the Spirit of Innovation as the fastest electrically charged vehicle in the world, the company stated.
The Spirit of Innovation aircraft falls under the umbrella of Accelerating the Electrification of Flight (ACCEL) project.
ACCEL receives fifty percent of funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) in amalgamation with Innovate UK and Department for Business and Energy & Industrial Strategy.
Besides a crucial breakthrough in technical achievement, the world record runs briefed essential data for the foreseeable electric power and propulsion systems, enhancing electrically fueled urban air mobility and commuter aircraft based on hybrid-electric models.
The all-electric aircraft used a 400kW electric powertrain for propulsion, featuring the most power-dense pack of propulsion batter assembled till date for aerospace application.
For integration of such powerful propulsion technologies which allowed record breaking runs, Rolls Royce partnered with an automotive powertrain supplier YASA and Electroflight, which specializes in aviation energy storage.
Source Credits: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/11/20211121-rollsroyce.html