Following its cliff-hangar five-day flight from Nagoya, Japan to Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii, Solar Impulse is undergoing an extended period of tender loving care, dedicated rebuilding of its battery packs and insightful reflection on how to avoid future issues.
Landing July 3, 2015, Pilot André Borschberg broke the world records for distance along a course (6,825.4 kilometers – 4,231.5 miles), Straight distance, and Duration for solar aviation, as well as the world record for the longest solo flight ever (80 hours and 5,663 km. – 3,511 miles), according to the Solar Impulse web site.
If all had gone according to plan, Bertrand Piccard would have hopped on board a few days later and headed for the United States on the second leg of the trans-pacific part of the the team’s around-the-world voyage. Unfortunately, the rigors of a test flight over Nagoya, followed by a climb to 28,000 feet too soon after that test flight, seems to have doomed at least some of the batteries.
Removing battery pack from SI2 gondola
Andre’ noted the rising temperatures in the battery packs on the first day’s climb, and doubtless had to treat the throttles on the big bird in a gingerly fashion every one of the four days following. Even will all systems “go,” the airplane would greet the dawn with a minimal charge. Andre’ had to monitor all systems with extreme care through the Nagoya to Hawaii leg.
Kokam, battery supplier for the flights, has produced the replacement pouch cells and they are now being “encapsulated” in special boxes with silver conductors and “a fail-safe system which should safeguard us from any more temperature-related glitches in case we have to follow a different mission profile than the one foreseen. It can be controlled from the cockpit and includes a cooling and backup system. In case the cooling system breaks down, the backup one steps in and allows the pilot to control the opening so that it doesn’t stay completely open, which would cause freezing, or closed, leading to another overheating scenario. Indeed, this could jeopardize the continuation of the flight which would be critical if the airplane was flying over an ocean.”
Airflow through nacelles and around newly designed battery packs and protective casing
Container boxes are being shock tested in Dubendorf, Germany and should be ready for the Kokam cells to be “boxed” by the end of this month, with final assembly and testing taking place in December.
After all has been assembled and tested, the battery boxes will be installed in the motor housing (or gondola), and finally hung on Solar Impulses’ wings.
Revised air inlet on gondolas
We will all be awaiting the spring and the final legs of Solar Impulse’s epic journey.
COP21
In the meantime, Borschberg and Piccard will appear at the upcoming COP21 (Congress of Parties 21) a major event in trying to build global consensus on what to do about global warming. In their typical fashion, they show positive alternatives to more onerous restrictions.
Dr. Piccard suggests seven ways to solve the problem, all with positive economic, social and environmental benefits for all.
- Highlight the solutions instead of the problems:
How can we motivate people against climate change if we continue to focus on the amplitude of the problem? The current discourse is depressing and makes the situation seem insurmountable. Mobilization will only become possible if we emphasize the tangible benefits of existing clean solutions: we can already cut CO2 emissions by half, when replacing old polluting devices in the field of industry, construction, heating, cooling, lighting and mobility with today’s energy-efficient technologies.
- Stop threatening human mobility, comfort and economic development in order to protect nature:
Asking people to make sacrifices for no immediate return only creates resistance. Who would renounce driving their car because of sea levels rising in 30 years? On the contrary, let’s demonstrate that everyone can maintain and even improve their standard of living thanks to affordable and accessible clean technology solutions, while at the same time reducing the impact of their lifestyle on the environment.
- Speak of profitable investments instead of expensive costs:
Protecting the environment should not be perceived as expensive. Because there is a need for more environmentally friendly products and processes, fighting climate change is opening-up new industrial markets and offering an opportunity for economic development, job creation and profit.
- Offer both rich and poor countries a share in the returns on investment:
If fighting against climate change is presented as a financial sacrifice for rich countries and a threat for the economic growth of developing countries, we will face opposition from the entire world. Investing in solutions, for energy efficiency and renewable energies, is profitable for investors and consumers in both rich and emerging markets.
- Refrain from setting goals without demonstrating how to reach them:
When we hear politicians wanting to reduce CO2 emissions by X% or limit temperature increases to 2°C, it comes across as wishful thinking. Nothing will ever happen if they don’t also set out very clear legal framework, procedures and concrete technological solutions to realize these goals.
- Combine regulations with private initiative:
The unpredictability of legislations and the risk of competitiveness distorsion too often prevent the industry from spontaneously investing in a cleaner production. Our society has regulations for education, hygiene, health, justice, etc., but not for preventing the waste of energy and natural resources. This must change!
- Act in the interest of today’s generation and not only for future generations:
Very few people will change their current behavior in favor of those living in the future. Let’s demonstrate that the changes we need can already deliver a favorable result on today’s economic, industrial and political development.
As much for the success of their flight as for their influence on world leaders, we wish Andre’ Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard the best of luck.