General Aviation "Proof Of Concept" Will Be Unveiled Next Week

Bye Energy, Inc. says it plans  to announce a proof of concept general aviation program using an electric hybrid propulsion system. The announcement is expected to be made on Thursday, February 18.

George Bye, CEO of Bye Energy, said the company is collaborating with selected technology partners to develop a clean energy propulsion alternative to internal combustion engines that currently power light propeller-driven aircraft. "The future is great for electric and electric-hybrid propulsion in aircraft," he said. "Savings to pilot-owners, increased operating efficiencies, reduced ownership and maintenance costs, environmental benefits and improved safety will permanently change the face of general aviation."

Details are sketchy, but the company, which was founded less than two years ago, has been working on an electrochemical storage system for general aviation since signing an agreement with Porous Power Technologies in 2008. At the time, George Bye, CEO of Bye Energy, said the collaborative partnership will align PPT’s progressive battery technology with his company’s engineering and marketing capabilities. “Our goal is to accelerate the commercialization of electrochemical energy storage systems for the aviation industry,” he said. “The end result will be an innovative, ‘clean’ energy alternative for aviation.”

On its website, Bye Energy describes the project as research on alternative propulsion systems, which has "led to the conclusion that electro-chemical energy stored in battery units combined with a highly efficient electric motor is the most adaptable solution for aviation utility. Battery technology, in terms of energy density, weight, safety, cycle life, efficiency and cost, has advanced considerably over the past 10 years, due in large part to accelerated hybrid-electric research and development conducted for the automobile industry. This technology has now matured enough to provide adequate energy to meet the requirements of a typical internal combustion powered aircraft."

FMI: www.byeenergy.com