Found My New "and" Vehicle...and It's Electric!

[NSTG8R]

180 mph cruise speed with a 300 mile range and can land in my backyard? I'm in!

Lilium electric jet: VTOL air travel for the masses?

 

[Ekh]

I'm not sure they can really do this for $6800!

 

[Hog]

but is it an "autocycle".......

 

[Mel]

Similar projects have been in development for over 50 years with none coming to market.
And on the topic of Light-Sport aircraft, this one misses the boat on several parameters.
In the US, maximum top speed for LSA is 120 kts. and electric propulsion is not allowed.

 

[BiloxiGeek]

I'm not sure they can really do this for $6800!

I'd guess that thing will, if ever, hit the market at no less than $100K.

 

[Sethodine]

Similar projects have been in development for over 50 years with none coming to market.
And on the topic of Light-Sport aircraft, this one misses the boat on several parameters.
In the US, maximum top speed for LSA is 120 kts. and electric propulsion is not allowed.

"Build it, and they will come."
In all my reading on wierd experimental aircraft, it seems that the FAA is willing to make exceptions to every rule, pending study of an actual working vehicle. I know I'm just an airplane fanboy and you're the trained and certified expert, so I'm not trying to step on any toes--just offering an outside perspective

I'm really hoping Electric drive someday gets added to the LSA parameters

As a side note, it just occured to me that electric motors like the ones used in the Lilium could be used as "tip jets" to spin the rotor of a VTOL gyroplane.

 

[NSTG8R]

I'd guess that thing will, if ever, hit the market at no less than $100K.

The battery alone would set you back $100K at today's prices, and God only knows how much a 400kwh Li-ion battery would weigh. Put an internal combustion engine in mine, please!

 

[Sethodine]

Well, if the lithium ion cells where the same as those in my leaf (450 lbs for 24 kw/h), then a 400 kwh pack would weigh in around 7500 lbs.

However, the article never said that it's battery was that large! It merely stated that it would have a top speed of around 400 km/h. With a range of 300 miles (482 km), that means a flight time of under an hour. For it's 320 kw motors, some guestimation on my part puts it around an 80 kwh battery pack, or around 1500 lbs. Heavy, but doable perhaps.

 

[John-b-gone]

I just love Gizmag

 

[Marshall]

The battery alone would set you back $100K at today's prices, and God only knows how much a 400kwh Li-ion battery would weigh. Put an internal combustion engine in mine, please!

Just give me wheels and a road.