I was wondering if anyone had put an electric motor in a Kitfox?
I was thinking that it could work well in a Kitfox since it would be lighter, require much less maintenance, be less susceptible to mechanical failure and could offer enough range for average use.
I am not a pilot but have been intrigued by the Kitfox as a simple, fun aircraft and this might motivate me to try to build one. In reading this forum, it seems that the major problems with flying the Kitfox are due to the engine. Lots of problems there. Electric motors are very simple and very reliable. Same for the batteries and control systems.
An 80 to 100 HP electric motor would weigh 100 to 150 pounds and batteries are about 50 pounds per 5 kWh storage it seems to me replacing the motor, cooling system fuel tanks and fuel weight with an electric system could result in a lighter aircraft. Electric motors, of course, don't suffer loss of efficiency with altitude. They also have nearly constant torque over their entire speed range.
So, is this idea crazy?