A record breaking attempt to fly around the world has been grounded after the lithium polymer batteries on Solar Impulse 2 succumb to heat damage.
The solar-powered aircraft’s four 70 liter batteries suffered ‘irriversible’ damage during the five days and five nights flight.
The 260 Wh/kg batteries, which operate at 300V and can hold a maximum capacity 38.5kWh, will now have to be replaced.
Problems arose when too much insulation caused the battery’s temperature to spike on the first day of the Pacific flight.
The plane is grounded in Hawaii as it waits up to several weeks for repairs before continuing its round-the-world trip.
