A universal mobile charger for the Cassio family of electric-hybrid airplanes and other electric aircraft was unveiled by VoltAero at the 2023 Dubai Airshow.
The charger is part of VoltAero’s strategy to create an infrastructure for its Cassio airplane family, which begins with the five-seat Cassio 330. The charger also will be offered for other electric aircraft, according to officials with VoltAero.
Capable of recharging the Cassio 330 in approximately 30 minutes, the charger uses a combination of supercapacitors and batteries for a power output of 100 kw, company officials said.
As part of the charger’s “intelligence,” it can be programmed for autonomous deployment to a designated location at an airport or landing zone for aircraft recharging, officials added.
Cassio aircraft will utilize an electric motor in the aft fuselage-mounted hybrid propulsion unit for all-electric power during taxi, takeoff, and primary flight (if the distance traveled is less than 150 km or about 93 miles), and landing.
The hybrid feature – with the internal combustion engine – comes into play as a range extender, recharging the batteries while in flight, company officials explained. Additionally, the hybrid element serves as a backup in the event of a problem with the electric propulsion, they added.
For more information: VoltAero.aero
This is an interesting ‘electric fuel truck’… Is this equipment needed to ‘save’ pilots from taxiing up to the ‘refueling station’ ?
Just don’t part the aircraft where this thing is programmed to move to.! or is it ‘smart’ enough to sense objects in it’s path ?
It’s listed as able to source 100 kw, but there is no info on the Kwhr capacity of the batteries.
more system costs for electric aircraft..!!
What’s next ? wireless recharging ?
@JimH. Seems that mobility of this unit will solve a problem of aircraft waiting 30 minutes in a queue at a fixed location for another aircraft to recharge (and, of course, that 30 minutes increases greatly in time as you get further back in the queue). Considering autonomous vacuum cleaners thru automobiles and drones can detect objects, I’m thinking this can likely do the same. Seems that a fuel truck for electric aircraft, although a system cost, seems like a natural progression; larger aircraft can’t refuel at self-serve today due to size; plus convenience and local regulations also dictate use of jet A and 100LL fuel trucks and many locations.
A number of fixed charging stations could be placed 50 ft apart as a simpler solution, to recharge more than 1 aircraft at a time. It’s only adding wire and a recharge connector, and credit card reader ]
[ BTW, I rarely have to wait for another aircraft to leave the fuel pumps ].
A KingAir sized aircraft would certainly need a remote recharge.
The only advantage that I see for this is it can source 50 kWhr, at 100kw rate and then use a 240 volt , 200 amp panel to recharge the battery over 1.5 – 2 hours, so that a very high capacity [ and expensive ] panel is not needed.