Ampaire Flies Hybrid
Caravan
By
November 20,
2022
Ampaire flew
its hybrid electric Caravan for the first time Nov. 18, completing a 33-minute
hop from Camarillo, California. According to Green Car
Congress, the short flight was conducted to do initial checks on the propulsion
system which consists of a compression ignition engine coupled to a generator
that charges a battery bank in a belly pod which, in turn, powers the electric
motor that turns the propeller. No issues were reported.
Seguin took
the Caravan to 3,500 feet at full power and then spent 20 minutes at various
power settings checking temperatures and other parameters. The hybrid actually
has a greater range (more than 1,000 miles) than a standard Caravan and has the
same payload. Because the batteries are in the pod, cabin space and passenger
capacity is also the same. Ampaire says the overall reduction in operating
costs is 25 to 40 percent and if the generator is run on sustainable aviation
fuel its net carbon contribution is almost zero. The
company hopes to have the mods STC’d by 2024.
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