Several companies are working on developing electric manned aircraft, however they are still in the early stages. With the exception of short hops, large planes require too much energy to be stored using existing battery technology. As technology advances, electric airplanes that can carry enormous loads of passengers or freight over great distances may one day be a reality. As a result, the majority of people think that electric aircraft is still a futuristic idea that has yet to become a reality in the here and now.
What if I told you that fossil fuel-driven airplanes are already being phased out globally in favor of electrically powered ones? The good news is that it is occurring quickly. However, it’s coming from an unexpected place.
Drone use is quickly overtaking electric car use in the United States and around the world because to the much reduced costs. Drones not only replace fossil fuel cars and save lives, but they also provide many individuals their first modest experience of EV ownership.
Drones are proving to be very helpful for utilities, and things are just going to get better. For instance, scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory of the Department of Energy are utilizing sensors, drones, and machine learning to prevent fires and lessen the harm they cause to the electric system as a result of climate change. Engineers are developing remote sensing devices that can spot fire spread patterns, electrical arcing, and malfunctioning machinery.
Therefore, it makes logical for utilities to try to utilize both small electric airplanes as well as EVs in their street fleets. And starting with a test vehicle, that’s exactly what Volkswagen and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intend to do.
The Tennessee Valley Authority intends to run an entirely electric vehicle and SUV fleet by 2030. The majority of Tennessee, as well as parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, are included in TVA’s service region, which is based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Additionally, TVA services are available in a few isolated Georgian locations.
According to said Don Moul, TVA Executive Vice President and COO , “Electricity is the clean, affordable, and dependable fuel that will decarbonize our country’s transportation network.” “TVA is at the forefront of the adoption of electric vehicles, and along with partners like Volkswagen, we are pushing farther and faster to accelerate the use of energy in all sectors of the economy to realize our vision of a world without carbon emissions.”
In order to meet its goal, TVA plans to replace its fleet of carbon-emitting vehicles with almost 400 light-duty and 800 medium-duty EVs and establish more than 300 charging stations at TVA sites. The utilities company has teamed up with Volkswagen on a year-long test utilizing its ID.4 EV to look at vehicle utilization capabilities and applications as one of its initial initiatives.
For this test, Volkswagen will provide TVA an SUV that has been upgraded with both Volkswagen and non-VW parts. The purpose of this vehicle, known as the “Mobile Drone Response Vehicle,” is to allow TVA to test drivers in a variety of actual response scenarios. The vehicle includes a portable power station, a drone storage compartment, and a field equipment storage compartment in the trunk.
Flexibility is provided by the vehicle’s roof rack and a Thule Caprock platform roof rack with a retractable side awning. A heavy-duty suspension, 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and other features liberate the SUV from restrictions. The driver has comprehensive visibility of the vehicle in front thanks to a full-screen digital rearview mirror that displays all of its capabilities. On November 1st, 2022, the Mobile Drone Response Vehicle will make its debut on the Volkswagen booth at SEMA (#10509).
To commemorate the collaboration, Volkswagen also unveiled a second ID.4 car with external decorations that raise awareness of the test fleet program. The all-electric SUV has 18-inch wheels with tough treaded tires, Volkswagen roof carrier bars, and a Canyon Roof Basket from Thule.
Hein Schafer, Senior Vice President Product Marketing
