Towing on grass adds its own challenges to such a question - and certainly an electric vehicle may be heavier than an ICE based one. That said, under many circumstances more weight on a towing vehicle is better - else it might just sit there and spin its wheels.
For towing on hard surfaces, there are already a variety of electric-powered towing devices on the market. This is one that we use to move my PC-12 at Adelaide airport, they're brilliant - because you can walk along the wingtip while operating it and ensure clearance. It can also lift and rotate the nosewheel arbitrarily (in terms of direction) using a built in turntable: http://www.tracetowbots.com Not quite what you wanted for your application, but an indication that electric aircraft moving devices are starting to come into their own of late. Regards, Simon On 05/03/2013, at 2:49 PM, Ian Mc Phee <[email protected]> wrote: > All & Simon > > I hear Simon H is an electric powered vehicle expert (Solar Challenge Darwin > to Adelaide) and wondering if you can offer thoughts on suitable electric > vehicle which could be used around airfield and towing gliders. I am sure > within a few years it will be the standard vehicle for airport use. > > Recently at Bathurst I noticed an electric skate board for personal transport > to the launch point - now just need a larger glider towing version!!! > > Off topic I have heard overseas insurance companies may consider you are not > covered for damage to a glider when towing behind a vehicle. May be a good > reason for driving very slowly when towing glider as just maybe you may not > be covered (esp if using other than factory gear). 18 months ago I heard > about a Libelle Written Off!! being towed behind vehicle and many many > gliders with about $5000 damage from towing behind a vehicle . > > Ian McPhee > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [email protected] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
