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eSpyder electric aircraft goes on sale for under $40K

By James Holloway
August 02, 2013
eSpyder electric aircraft goes on sale for under $40K
Standard flight times fall between 60 and 90 minutes
Standard flight times fall between 60 and 90 minutes
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The company will ship 25 eSpyders in the United States at a cost of US$39,990. Another 25 will be sold in Europe for €34,990 eac
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The company will ship 25 eSpyders in the United States at a cost of US$39,990. Another 25 will be sold in Europe for €34,990 eac
According to GreenWing's figures, the eSpyder can cruise at speeds of up to 68 mph (109 km/h)
2/5
According to GreenWing's figures, the eSpyder can cruise at speeds of up to 68 mph (109 km/h)
Standard flight times fall between 60 and 90 minutes
3/5
Standard flight times fall between 60 and 90 minutes
The company will ship 25 eSpyders in the United States at a cost of US$39,990. Another 25 will be sold in Europe for €34,990 eac
4/5
The company will ship 25 eSpyders in the United States at a cost of US$39,990. Another 25 will be sold in Europe for €34,990 eac
Recharging the battery takes 2 to 3 hours
5/5
Recharging the battery takes 2 to 3 hours
View gallery - 5 images

Electric aircraft company GreenWing International has announced the release of its first 50 eSpyder single-seat electric planes, which will be sold as build-it-yourself kits for for under US$40,000.

The eSpyder is a compact little flyer, measuring 5.9 m (19.4 ft) nose to tail, standing 2.4 m (7.9 ft) high with a wingspan of 10.1 m (33.1 ft). Empty, the eSpyder weighs 186 kg (410 lb).

It's propelled by a 24 kW (32 hp) motor powered by a 13-kWh onboard lithium battery. GreenWing says that the eSpyder's custom charging system monitors the health of the battery in order to achieve the best performance possible.

According to GreenWing's figures, the eSpyder can cruise at speeds of up to 68 mph (109 km/h), though to optimize efficiency it can cruise in economy mode at 38 mph (61 km/h). Standard flight times fall between 60 and 90 minutes. Recharging the battery takes 2 to 3 hours.

The company will ship 25 eSpyders in the United States at a cost of US$39,990. Another 25 will be sold in Europe for €34,990 each. In Germany, the eSpyder has been DULV certified, making it the first electric aircraft to be certified at a national level.

The company says that it has limited the initial run in order to ensure "outstanding service" for customers. The company is aiming to deliver the kits before the end of the year.

GreenWing International is a spin-off of Yuneec to focus on the electric aircraft developed by that company, including the eSpyder and e430.

Source: GreenWing International via Wired

View gallery - 5 images

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AircraftElectricElectric VehiclesElectric AircraftGreenWing International
9 comments
James Holloway
James writes about science and technology from his home in rural East Anglia. Whether it's the internet, nature, video games or AI, he pays particular heed to the flash points with culture, society and the planet.

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9 comments
The Skud
Looks like someone has come with the idea of sticking an electric motor on an ultralight - instead of the two-stroke motor! They should sell the gear separately so you could convert and use an existing glider for longer flight times.
Oztechi
The best thing about this aircraft is that it should be very quiet to operate
Mr E
I'm not sure I like the terminology: Standard flight times "fall" between 60 and 90 minutes.
Dan Lewis
I think the thing will still be pretty noisy, just as the main noise from cars now, is from their tires. The roar of the spinning blade will be pretty loud.
Joseph Mertens
Add a buoyant wing to this and the flight time will dramatically increase.
Jim Lawrence
I flew this in Oshkosh a week ago. It was so quiet I could hear my cell phone click when I took self portraits with my arm extended into the slipstream. A fabulous step forward in electric flight for Americans. These are the early 1900s of a new era of flight.
RMM
Please give due credit to the eGull. Steadily improving performance, affordable...AND...in the market place for the same price for the past several years. Here is a clip from.. http://blog.cafefoundation.org/?p=8110 Check out the photos. The eGull is super quiet and climbs like crazy.
Mark Beierele of Earthstar Aircraft has been a steady presence over the years, and this year demonstrated his eGull 2000 equipped with his latest motor, a Zero Motorcycles 54-horsepower, dual-stator unit. He put on a crowd-pleasing demonstration of the aircraft’s capabilities at the ultralight area on Friday morning, showing under 100-foot takeoff runs and climbing at an appreciable angle, reaching his pattern cruising altitude by the end of the short runway.
Javier MacDonald
What is the stall speed?
Thomas Lewis
As we restart where we left off in the 1900's with electric cars,I welcome the slow transition to electric powered flight.I have no doubt it will make aircraft safer,more affordable for the ultralight or private pilot crowd.Within the next 15 to 20 years,I have no doubt range will no longer be a problem,with increased battery capacity and fast chargers all over the nations roadways and airports.I can't wait.