Solar Impulse is a solar-powered-aircraft project designed by B. Piccard, supported by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and with financial support from A. Borschberg.

“Solar Impulse 1 (HB-SIA)”

-Sponsors are emerging to support this project. The first prototype (photo) has almost 12,000 photovoltaic cells to power four 10 HP motors reduced to 8 HP when cruising.

-The batteries are made of lithium polymer and the whole unit is capable of flying even at night with daytime charging.

-With the new HB-SIB, it is intended to circumnavigate the globe in 2014-2015.