Pipistrel Taurus Electro

Taurus Electro G2 is the only electric 2-seat aeroplane in serial production available on the market. Furthermore, Pipistrel believes it is the only truly useful electric aircraft out there, because the electric drive is applied to the glider airframe, where battery capacity is not a limiting factor in performance/endurance.

Taurus Electro G2 represents a leap forward in performance, safety, functionality and user friendliness.

Why the new generation?
Based on extensive testing of the Taurus Electro prototype, we decided not only to refine the product to serial production state, but rather to rethink, redesign and implement completely new solutions into the initial design. The result is what our Research and Development team calls  Taurus Electro »Generation 2« or G2 in short. It is the production version and represents a great step up from the prototype The aircraft now has much better reliability, handling and performance.

Can electric perform better than conventional? Absolutely!
For the first time electric power outperforms its gasoline-powered counterpart – the Taurus. Taurus Electro G2 can use a shorter runway, climbs faster and is performs much better than the gasoline-powered version when it comes to high altitude operations. All this is possible thanks to the specially-developed emission-free Pipistrel's 40kW electric power-train.

The tailor-developed Lithium-technology batteries come in two configurations, capable of launching the aeroplane to 1200 m (4000 ft) or 2000 m (6500 ft) respectively. They are placed in self-contained boxes, monitored constantly by the super-precise Pipistrel's own battery management system (BMS), compete with data-logging and battery health forecasting.

The propulsion motor weighs an impressive 11 kg (rather than 16 kg) and generates 10 kW more power, resulting in a total of 40 kW. Due to this 33% increase in power and 40% decrease in weight we developed a whole new propeller, which has proven to be more efficient than the version flying on the Taurus Electro Prototype.

More than just a touch of Innovation!
With the Taurus Electro G2 we are introducing a World's first - a full set of on-board networked avionics providing for a fly-by-wire powertrain management with built-in multi-layer protection logic. Let us tell you that this represents a great improvement over the system used in the Taurus Electro prototype, where everything was handled by the pilot.

State-of-the-art battery system that uses information from the past to see into the future.
The first element of this networked system is the state-of-the-art hybrid battery management system which was developed entirely in house to be able to function with tighter tolerances than commercially available systems, yielding better performance and longer battery life. The Battery Management system monitors the batteries, which were specially developed to be used in the Taurus Electro G2. They represent the absolute pinnacle of today's battery technology, combining low weight, high power and high energy density to levels that seemed impossible as recently as 2009. The batteries are placed in alluminum boxes with dedicated power and signal connectors. Each battery cell's performance is monitored, temperature measured and future performance predicted.

The system is able to forecast when a battery cell is mal-performing and signals the need for a premature replacement. All parameters are also logged in the on-board flight data recorder. The four (4) battery boxes are removable and replaceable.

Power controller
The second element is the power inverter/motor controller. It's location has been moved into the aircraft's fuselage, it has become more efficient and features self-protection logic against current spikes, over temperatures and other potential abnormal situations. In other words, the controller is not only driving the motor, but also providing for the low-level protection of both itself, the batteries and the motor.

Introducing the ESYS-MAN cockpit interface instrument!
The most noticable addition to the networked system is the color-display cockpit interface instrument. The screen is really bright, in fact brighter than most displays out there, and is readable in the strongest of sunshine! It indicates the drive mode and important parameters to the pilot and provides the interface for engine retraction and extension. Everything is operated via two (2) toggle switches and a rotatable knob. The first toggle switch is the power on/off switch and does exactly that – powers up the motor controller.

The second toggle switch is the motor position selector »up/down« i.e. extended or retracted. This process is fully automated – the propeller is positioned and held in place while the motor extends or retracts. The pilot only selects the desired mode with the toggle switch. The rotary encoder acts as the throttle selector.

The beauty comes from within...ESYS-MAN is much more than just a display.
Due to the nature of electric propulsion system, we decided to employ the computational power of this cockpit interface instrument and gave it the role of the master on board computer. This means it not only displays data to the pilot, but also »talks« to every other powertrain component on board via CAN bus and makes everything sing together. It is able to detect overheating of individual components and reduce power gradually in order to maximize the climb potential with the given system status. Not only that, it provides systems diagnostics and all necessary warnings to the pilot.

ESYS-MAN was developed in cooperation with LXNAV, Pipistrel and LZ design.

Combining all elements, we have developed an aircraft which offers more performance and an almost care-free use of this revolutionary technology.

Taurus Electro is made in highest technology composites (epoxy resin, glass fibre, carbon fibre, kevlar fibre and honeycomb structures). The airfoil used on wings is ORL 170, (F. Orlando).