Research in the Past, Present and Future Solar Electric Aircraft

Due to the increased use in vehicles that areoperatedby internal combustion (IC) engines,several challengesassociated with climate change and global warming haveappeared. Thebest alternativetoface with those challenges isto use the vehicleswhich do notrequirefuelsandIC engines. Electric vehiclesare being well-designed, developed and produced to be more effective every day.In the field of aviation,new aircraft whichrun on full-electric-energy arebeingdeveloped whichisexpectedtochange the conventional travel way. Those aircraft use batteries, ultra-capacitors, fuel-cells to drive motors which are connectedtopropellers.With theproper developmentin the field of electric aviation, the aforementioned issues can be reduced, and eventually mitigated. In this paper, the past developments in this fieldof electric aviation,presentelectricaircraftflying in thesky,and thefuture projectsthat areintended and/or projectedto change the aviation industryarediscussed.Also, the differentdesignsassociated with electricaircraftare discussed along with their advantages and disadvantages. This paper demonstrates the promising movements of the aviation industry toward the more reliable and efficient solar electric aircraft and reducing emissionss.