Pipistrel and Green Motion to create electric aircraft charging network

A Swiss company specialising in electric vehicle charging is to partner with Pipistrel Aircraft, developer and manufacturer of the world’s first type certified electric aircraft, to create a charging network for airfields.

Green Motion was a pioneer in setting up a network of electric charging pints for electric cars, motorcycles and trucks known as ‘evpass’. For the past two years it has been working on a similar network for electric aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

Green Motion already has charging stations for electric aircraft at two airfields in Switzerland which it calls ‘Flight XT’.

The two companies’ objectives:

• Universality: currently, there is no standard for electric aircraft charging. This partnership will create a worldwide standard.
• Future Proof: Green Motion says it and Pipistrel will design a charging solution that is here to last and evolve with the latest technologies.
• Turnkey Installation: the electric aircraft charging solution will be easy to install and combine with a photovoltaic system – solar technologies help airports receive subsidies – which can be complemented with cutting-edge storage solutions.
• Network: the two companies envision to create the first EV charging network for electric aircraft and UAM.

Green Motion and Pipistrel are members of SAE International’s AE-7D Aircraft Energy Storage and Charging Committee.

Ivo Boscarol, founder and president of Pipistrel, said, “I am dedicating my life to contributing to a cleaner atmosphere and emission-free aviation. Type certifying the first all-electric airplane was the necessary step towards this goal.

“As part of the endeavour, Pipistrel was forced to develop and produce almost everything in-house, including the chargers.

“However, to assure a significant change to cleaner atmosphere, widespread use of electric aircraft is a must, and we need to spread the network of chargers to airports all over the world. This cannot be achieved by Pipistrel alone, but with a skilled and distinguished partner as Green Motion, this becomes a reality.

“I am happy that our SkyCharge stations will grow further with its potential into a common new brand SkyCharge by Green Motion and Pipistrel, to offer electric aircraft users a breakthrough, connected and a turn key service all over the world”.

François Randin, founder and CEO of Green Motion, said, “Green Motion has worked on electric airplane and UAM charging solutions for over two years. We see the beginning of this new market like we did more than 11 years ago with electric cars.

“After being a pioneer for electric cars, we are now a trail blazer in electric aircraft charging too. That is why we are so proud and honoured to partner with Pipistrel, a world-renowned aircraft producer which has complementary technology and mindset to ours, so we can define the future of electric planes together.”

Pipistrel Aircraft

Green Motion