Beam Touts Off-grid Solar Power for Electric Aircraft | Aviation International News

Sustainability and Environment

Beam Touts Off-grid Solar Power for Electric Aircraft

Clean-technology startup Beam Global believes it has advanced the case for off-grid solar energy as an aircraft power source.

Beam Global’s Electric Vehicle Autonomous Renewable Charger operates entirely off-grid and requires no construction work for installation at airports. (Photo: Beam Global)

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

July 26, 2021

Clean-technology startup Beam Global believes it has advanced the case for off-grid solar energy as an aircraft power source with what it says was a record-breaking flight across central California. Joseph Oldham, CEO of New Vision Aviation, a not-for-profit organization providing flight training for disadvantaged communities, recently flew a Pipistrel Alpha Electro 260 miles from Fresno to Lodi, with stops in Madera, Merced, and Modesto. The all-electric light aircraft was powered entirely with Beam Global’s Electric Vehicle Autonomous Renewable Charger (EV ARC) system.

According to San Diego-based Beam, the technology generates electricity from solar power, which is delivered directly to vehicles. The EV ARC recharging units take up the space of a standard car and are intended to be quickly deployed to airfields or wherever they are needed by electric aircraft operators. They could also recharge electric ground-support vehicles at FBOs.

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