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World's First Solar Blimp to Attempt English Channel Crossing

by Caleb Johnson on June 28, 2010 at 05:20 PM

Project Sol'R Blimp
We've already told you that the world's largest airship, called the Bullet 580, will depart on its maiden voyage later this year. Now, according to Inhabitat, the world's first solar-powered blimp is set to take flight over the English Channel as early as next week. The helium-filled Nephelios, which measures 72-feet long and 18-feet wide, is covered with a strip of semi-flexible solar cells. These cells can generate about 2.4 kilowatts of power, which turn the airship's two giant red propellers fast enough to reach speeds of 25 miles per hour. At that roaring speed, Nephelios should cross the English Channel in about one hour.

While nearly a year late, it appears that Project Sol'R, the codename of this collaboration between numerous French universities and technical schools, is nearly complete. We're not betting that blimps are the future of 'green' transportation, since the balloon-cum-bus is about as niche as it gets. But, at the very least, this project demonstrates that large-scale vehicles can go green and stay sustainable, while not erupting into a fiery ball of heat and humanity. [From: Inhabitat and SmartPlanet, via: io9]

Tags: airship, blimp, flight, green, greentech, hindenburg, nephelios, project solr, ProjectSolr, solar, solarpower, top, transportation

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