Scientists affiliated with the Netherlands have presented a project for an electric plane that, with its eight wings powered by batteries, can revolutionize the industry by making long-duration flights clean and affordable in the future.
Named OctoPlane, this aircraft is essentially an electric plane with eight wings powered by batteries, capable of traveling from the Netherlands to Switzerland without refueling.
Dutch startup Elision (the creator company of OctoPlane) aims to challenge the conventional thinking that electric planes are not suitable for long-haul flights. Therefore, the startup has designed this aircraft after observing large planes used for travel, which operate with a significant amount of fuel.
Elision collaborated with experts from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands to explore new ideas for electric planes. The director of design and engineering at Elision, Reinard De Vries, mentioned that they felt there is hidden information in old design books that has never been applied to battery-powered electric planes.
OctoPlane is larger than traditional planes and has a smaller footprint in terms of fuel compared to conventional aircraft, enhancing its aerodynamics. It has been constructed with wings that are 141 feet wide, designed to easily fold for convenient entry into airports. Batteries are installed on the wings for efficient use of space, and the aircraft's structure is made lightweight.
The company envisions that this aircraft can cover a distance of more than 800 kilometers with 90 passengers on a single charge.