Duke Field breaks ground on first electric aircraft charging station

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Duke Field breaks ground on first electric aircraft charging station
by Matthew Clouse for AFRL News
Duke Field FL (SPX) Sep 25, 2023

- AFWERX and one of its Prime division partners, BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company, broke ground on the first electric aircraft charging station on a military installation at Duke Field, Florida, Sept. 19, 2023.

The expected completion date for the Level 3 direct current electric vehicle fast charging station construction project is Oct. 13, 2023, weeks before BETA's electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft arrives for testing.

"Level 1 is a typical home power outlet and would take days to charge an eVTOL. Level 2 is a dryer or air conditioning outlet and would take hours. Level 3 is a supercharger and only takes minutes," said Maj. Riley Livermore, 413th Flight Test Squadron flight commander. "And that's what these companies need, because if you want to make it viable from a commercial or military perspective, I can't wait 24 hours to charge my airplane. They need to do it in less than an hour."

To achieve the speeds necessary for fast charging, Level 3 chargers require an extremely high-powered current. To provide enough power to the 480-volt, 400-amp charging station, Livermore said the base had to upgrade its power grid and bought a 1000-kilowatt volt-amp transformer that can increase or decrease the voltage and intensity of an electric current while keeping electricity flow consistent.

"You can power roughly 250 homes simultaneously with the amount of power one charger is using," Livermore added.

Located 10 miles north of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Duke Field was strategically selected as the test field for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The field is home to the Air Force's rotary wing test squadron, the 413th Flight Test Squadron.

"The 413th has a breadth of experience testing a variety of rotor wing aircraft and we're looking to those experts to assist with the testing of eVTOL aircraft," said Maj. Anthony Zartman, AFWERX Agility Prime program lead. "We've grown to the point now with our partners that we're ready to put hardware at multiple bases and take a close look at possible use cases. It's an exciting time for our program."

AFWERX is partnering with the eVTOL commercial industry to bring zero-emission aviation to the military along with other benefits, including a quiet noise profile and the cost savings to operate and maintain its fleet without dependency on traditional fossil fuels.

"Our mission is to continue to be at the leading edge of emerging technologies in the aerospace industry," Zartman added. "AFWERX has integrated with each of these eVTOL companies as early as possible, so we can potentially influence those designs and also be up to speed on the pros and cons of current technology. Then we'll decide whether or not to continue to pursue those technologies, or perhaps pursue them in different ways. When the technology is advanced to a level where it provides a capability for the warfighter, we'll be ready to pull the trigger and execute."

Artificial Intelligence Summary

Defense Industry Analyst:

8/10

This article provides insight into the progress of the defense industry in terms of the development of electric aircraft. The groundbreaking of a Level 3 direct current electric vehicle fast charging station at Duke Field in Florida is an important step forward in the development of electric aviation, and AFWERX and BETA Technologies are to be commended for their efforts in bringing this project to fruition. The 413th Flight Test Squadron’s expertise in testing a variety of rotor wing aircraft is also highlighted, and their contribution to the testing of eVTOL aircraft is invaluable.

Stock Market Analyst:

7/10

This article provides an insight into the progress of the defense industry in terms of the development of electric aircraft. The completion of the Level 3 direct current electric vehicle fast charging station at Duke Field in Florida is an important step forward in the development of electric aviation, and its completion could have positive implications for the stock market. The 413th Flight Test Squadron’s expertise in testing a variety of rotor wing aircraft is also highlighted, and their contribution to the testing of eVTOL aircraft is invaluable.

General Industry Analyst:

7/10

This article provides an insight into the progress of the defense industry in terms of the development of electric aircraft. The groundbreaking of a Level 3 direct current electric vehicle fast charging station at Duke Field in Florida is an important step forward in the development of electric aviation, and its completion could have positive implications for the defense industry as a whole. The 413th Flight Test Squadron’s expertise in testing a variety of rotor wing aircraft is also highlighted, and their contribution to the testing of eVTOL aircraft is invaluable.

Analyst

Summary

AFWERX and one of its Prime division partners BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company, recently broke ground on the first electric aircraft charging station on a military installation at Duke Field in Florida. The expected completion date for the Level 3 direct current electric vehicle fast charging station construction project is October 13th, 2023, just before BETA’s electric vertical take off and landing aircraft arrives for testing. This groundbreaking is an important step forward in the development of electric aviation, and could have positive implications for both the defense industry and stock market. The 413th Flight Test Squadron’s expertise in testing a variety of rotor wing aircraft is also highlighted, and their contribution to the testing of eVTOL aircraft is invaluable.

This article serves to highlight the significant progress that has been made in the defense and space industry over the past 25 years. In particular, the development of electric aircraft has seen tremendous progress in recent years, with the construction of the Level 3 direct current electric vehicle fast charging station at Duke Field in Florida being a major milestone.

Investigative

Question:

1. What are the potential implications of the completion of the Level 3 direct current electric vehicle fast charging station?
2. How has the development of electric aircraft progressed in the past 25 years?
3.

What other organizations have been involved in the development of electric aircraft?

4. Are there plans to expand the electric aircraft charging station to other military installations?

5. What challenges have been encountered in the development of electric aircraft?

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