Originally published at: Hybrid Power Available For Homebuilts - AVweb
An electric motor gives a boost to a big motorcycle engine when needed.
I really, really, really question the safety of having large gasoline tanks as well as large batteries in the event of even a minor crash.
10,000RPM? Thats quite a lot. My experience running automotive engines in aircraft is although the engine may handle that RPM happily in a vehicle, its not designed to be running those RPMs continuously. I had a geared Subaru in my homebuilt , running about 5000 RPM, and found it had constant oil temperature issues and burnt through a set of exhaust valves in 180hrs flying. The engine is solidly built and can cope with those RPM, but not continuously. Will have to see how the Kawasaki copes with that type of continuous load…
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It depends on the battery chemistry. If it is lithium iron phosphate then it’s not going to be significantly more dangerous than the combination of avgas and battery you have in your airplane. If the chemistry involves cobalt or manganese, do not walk, run away from it as fast as you can. I don’t think they’re safe enough for the automotive applications they are commonly used in, let alone in an aircraft.
Oh, I was thinking of all the high voltage wires and high voltage devices.
This is no longer a little 12V battery that’s on one side of a firewall.
And then the event of crashing into the water, will the sharks get you before the high voltage? Asking for an orange friend.
Don’t worry, your friend knows that magnetism stops working when wet. Since Magnetism and Electricity are all part of the same fundamental force, electricity won’t work either.
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No mention of cost or weight? Looks complicated and expensive. Not sure what the upside to the solution is compared to some of the others that are out there. Give the home built community an option that is light enough, powerful enough and significantly less expensive (initial and operating) than the existing standards (lycoming, continental, rotax) and will be all over it.
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According to gospel, any battery of that size being tossed in water will simply short out. No danger.
Hybrids have been used for decades. Ask Toyota how to do it, in case we can’t find the expertise or skill to do it.
You have to wonder about the nature of the engine management. Twin spark? High pressure cooling system? What happens to high pressure cooling systems at altitude? Sealed high pressure? Pop. Are 185 hours enough to validate the theory? Sure. Are they guessing with a 1,500 hour TBO?
Better question, how do pilots preflight electric wires? Oh, but they’re behind protective shrouds too, huh? So birds…squirrels…I suppose they won’t enter the cowl? Are these electric systems going to ice internally? If pilots decend and the ice melts, will the condensation short a HV system? A motorcycle ECU? Are the windings going to use a sacrificial anode? What about corrosion? Electrical systems love corrosion. What of electrocution? The aircraft is composed of metal. There is no ground. If there is static buildup, are there electrostatic shields in the electronic management? What of a runaway HV condition. Can it be shut down? Is that switch a single part, or is it redundant? How long is that switch rated for? If the switch fails, does it fail in the operating position or disconnect? If the HV system fails, do all banks fail, or are banks isolated? If the aircraft is operated near fuel, is there a method to fully breaker the HV to prevent ignition of fuel vapors. All these things point individuals who have eyes mounted to the front of their head to question the foundation of the reason behind it. Can’t you ..idk…just, have an engine?
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