----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 11:51
AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Bill Dube and
Killacycle?
The Killacycle uses lithium phosphate batteries
manufactured by the A123 company. Look up A123 on Wikipedia for
details. The A123 cells are the ones used by Dewalt in their high end
lithium power tools.
The A123 cells have been used quite a bit by the
RC crowd as an alternative to lithium polymers which have been pretty popular
in RC for a few years. In fact lithium polymer has really made electric
powered RC flight possible/practical. Compared to lithium polymer the A123
cells have a lower power density, are heavier, and are far less volatile to
use than lithium polymer. They are also cheaper due to their high volume use
by Dewalt compared to the relatively low volume RC market for li-poly. As far
as I know there is still no way for an end user to buy A123s as raw cells. The
guys using them in RC buy Dewalt battery packs and hack them. For guys looking
for a cheaper electric alternative to li-poly who dont need max performance
the A123 cells are a good choice.
Li-poly is still the only battery technology that
I know of that has the potential to actually power a man carrying aircraft. In
fact they are currently being used in several European self launch sailplane
designs. There is also a guy here in the US marketing a Ultralight trike that
is electric powered and he has an electric self launch sailplane almost ready
to fly.
Still electric power is a niche that isnt yet
practical for most pilots. Li-polys are expensive, still considerably heavier
than gasoline with less energy density, and are potentially very hazardous if
mishandled or damaged.
Mike Wills
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 7:23
AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Bill Dube and
Killacycle?
I saw the battery powered Killacycle
drag racing on TV last night against a gasoline powered drag cycle in the
quarter mile. They both hit 160 mph with the gasoline cycle bearly
beating the Killacycle by a small margin. Speaking of which has anyone
heard anything recently from Bill Dube and his very interesting work on
that new type of battery??
Here is a video link to one of the
killacycle's burnout and drag races for those of you not familiar with the
work Bill has done.
Bill Dube are you still one the
list???