IMAGE COURTESY
–
The “Spirit of Innovation” aircraft has become the fastest electric vehicle in a test flight, according to Rolls Royce. The company reports that on November 16 its all-electric aircraft reached a top speed of 623 kilometers per hour (387.4 miles per hour). Once certified, this aircraft would become the fastest electric vehicle in history.
The vehicle, which is part of the company’s ACCEL program (Accelerating the electrification of flight), reached a speed of 555.9 km / h (345.4 mph) in 3 kilometers, breaking the previous record at 213.04 km / h. h (132 mph). Over a 15-kilometer run, the spirit of innovation reached 532.1 km / h (330 mph), another record result. The plane was also a minute faster to climb up to 3,000 meters than previous achievements, it did so in just 202 seconds.
These results have now been submitted to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the international organization that controls and certifies the world aeronautical and astronautical registry.
“Claiming the world record for all-electric speed is a fantastic achievement for the ACCEL team and Rolls-Royce. I would like to thank our partners and especially Electroflight for their collaboration in achieving this pioneering breakthrough, ”said Warren East, CEO of Rolls-Royce, in a statement.
“The advanced battery and propulsion technology developed for this program has interesting applications for the Advanced Air Mobility market. Following the world’s focus on the need for action at COP26, this is another milestone that will help make ‘jet zero’ a reality and supports our ambitions to deliver the technological advancements society needs to decarbonize transportation by air, land and sea ”.
The current certified record for the fastest electric vehicle is the Venturi VBB-3 Streamliner, an electric car that reached 550 km / h (342 mph) five years ago.
With information from IFL Science
