27 February 2024
The network of charging points for electric aircraft is growing fast with a new Aerovolt installation at Devon’s Dunkeswell Aerodrome.
This one is different though, with electric cars also being able to make use of the facilities using landside charge points, and it’s also the aviation debut for a new energy storage system called Allye.
Due to the limited grid supply at Dunkeswell’s rural location, Allye has installed its 320kw ‘Max’ battery built from recycled Tesla Model 3 batteries.
Allye and Aerovolt will trial the Max at Dunkeswell for an initial six-month period and explore further cooperation to install the Max battery at Aerovolt’s current and future smart aircraft charging network sites wherever grid constraints exist.
Alan Kingsley-Dobson, COO and co-founder of Aerovolt with his brother Philip, said, “We have been discussing installations with aerodromes that simply do not have a sufficient grid connection for the Aerovolt Charger, and were quoted hundreds of thousands to upgrade.
“We realised Allye had the solution we needed. This is a big step, an important step, indeed a world first. We are supercharged to be partnered with Allye and believe this is just the beginning of a truly exciting story.”
Many airfields are in rural locations with an insufficient grid connection. Dunkeswell is the first airfield to have the Allye battery system to overcome the issue
Dunkeswell Aerodrome will also have an electric Pipistrel Velis Electro available for trial flights at £165 for 30 minutes.
Charlie Salter, operations manager at Dunkeswell, said, “Over the last few months we’ve been working closely with the team at Aerovolt to bring electric aviation to the forefront of General Aviation Training in the southwest. Starting in late March we will be offering experience flights in the Pipistrel Velis Electro.”
In addition, Octopus Electroverse, an electric vehicle charging platform, is working with Aerovolt and will be available at Dunkeswell. Electroverse cuts through the many payment apps at charge points with a ‘One Card One App’ model.
Aerovolt is also to install its smart charging system at Snowdonia Aerospace Centre at Llanbedr for electric Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft (eVTOL) and drones. The airfield is planning a ‘vertiport’ ad it seeks to position itself as a flight test centre for eVTOL aircraft.
