The Sky Hopper team have known for some years that electric power in transport systems is coming of age. It is good to see that the UK government is catching up with its new vision of ground transport being powered largely by electric machines in the near future.
No-one, however, should under-estimate the development required to increase power densities to the level that makes them practical. Engineers still have a way to go.
The secret to success will lie both in underlying chemistry improvements and in the small incremental steps that are used by engineers to enhance any system across all its aspects. As the motoring journalist James May has pointed out the Model T Ford is recognisably a car, but it is a long long way removed from the Ford Mondeo of today.
One of the drivers of the Sky Hopper project is precisely this incremental innovation process. Our vision is that our vehicle will be the first of many, beginning with a demonstrator that proves the operational potential, but then being improved again and again and again; making it lighter, faster, with extended duration, higher mass carrying capacity and, of course, commercial usefulness that adds value.
We are just about to go into our major launch phase for funding. Please take the time to look over our site at www.skyhopper.co.uk and understand our thinking. We in Britain have to push out as fast as we can on projects like this. If we do not we will be left behind by others with more imagination and talent. Success breeds success, but you have to generate the initial innovation to get onto that virtuous cycle.
So, once again, please help us with our funding. Why not send us a donation. Or contact us about sponsorship … it’s time we did this …