CAFE Releases GFC Final Results

October 13, 2011 – The CAFE Foundation released the final results of the NASA Green Flight Challenge sponsored by Google which showed a “profound” difference between the competitors powered by electric motors and those using gas- and hybrid-powered aircraft. All participants flew very efficient motorgliders with high lift-to-drag ratios and CAFE suggests that less drag and efficient electric motors gave the electrics an advantage, but the difference in consumption is still stark.

In the efficiency competition, the lowest-performing electric still bested the nearest gas-powered aircraft by 2 gallons (energy equivalent); in the speed competition it was nearly a 5-gallon difference. CAFE said collectively a little more than 11 U.S. gallons were used to fly seven people a total of more than 725 miles, which is a significant increase over the “best general aviation aircraft available today.”

More analysis of the results can be found on CAFE’s blog.

Chart courtesy CAFE

 

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