As André continues his descent toward Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, a flight that might set a new world distance record in the solar aviation category, innovation is definitely reaching new heights, but not only in America’s skies.

Schindler, a Solar Impulse Main Partner and world leading elevator and escalator manufacturer, is following Solar Impulse’s pioneering spirit, also vertically, but in a different way. Schindler heavily invested in a concept; a concept that became reality and is now being commercialized:  a solar-powered elevator.

A revolutionary achievement, Schindler’s solar elevator does not only reduce energy consumption, it can run entirely on sunlight. Furthermore, because of their capacity to run independently of the power grid, it allows them to function, undisturbed, in case of a power outage.

Prototype solar elevators were tested in Barcelona (Spain) and Switzerland in residential, low-rise buildings. The energy is collected by solar panels on the building’s rooftop while excess energy is stored in the Energy Storage Device (ESD) until needed. Backup power needs are provided by a one- phase grid connection, significantly simpler and more cost-efficient compared to standard three-phase connections.

The embedded Schindler engineers are the direct partnership link between Schindler and Solar Impulse, demonstrating the intense information and innovation exchange between the two companies. But Schindler’s contribution to the project goes beyond. Thanks to them and five other partners, Solvay, Bayer MaterialScience, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, SunPower and the Swiss Confederation, this year’s Across America mission has come true.   

Today, in the quaint city of Bern, which also happens to be Switzerland’s capital, the Swiss Federal Council reinforced its support of the Solar Impulse project.  

Thanks to this, Solar Impulse will continue to benefit from the hangars in Dübendorf (where HB-SIB is being built) and Payerne (where HB-SIA is currently housed and where the test flights of HB-SIB will occur). In the meantime, Switzerland’s affiliation to the project provides the ideal platform to showcase the Helvetian innovative and entrepreneurial spirit.

It’s not by chance that Solar Impulse took flight in this miniscule country at the heart of the Alps. Switzerland has always heavily invested in education and research and is currently home to some of the best laboratories, Universities and technologically innovative SMEs in the world. In fact, the project started thanks to a feasibility study done by the Swiss Polytechnic University in Lausanne (EPFL) while the aircraft was built using a number of materials researched, tested and manufactured within the Confederation’s borders.

The celebrated little white cross superimposed on a red square will once again proudly fly, this time through American skies. Let’s hope we’ll be able to break out, at least once, from the usual clichés of chocolates, cheeses and banks to show another side of this dynamic landlocked country...

Thanks to loyal partners like Solvay, Schindler, Bayer MaterialScience and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, the dream to conquer new horizons is coming true. Their additional support allows Solar Impulse to achieve a flight mission which was not at all planned before we made the decision to rebuild the wing spar and to postpone the round-the-world flight from 2014 to 2015: crossing the United States from West Coast to East Coast this year! Other partners will probably join in the adventure.

Preparations for departure have increased in intensity. HB-SIA is now dismantled and the material needed for the mission is packed in big wooden crates, all of which will be loaded in a Boeing 747 and shipped to Moffett Airfield at the Ames Research Center of NASA in the heart of Silicon Valley; and from there, a new adventure begins…

For more information about the partnerships:

Solvay

Schindler 

Bayer MaterialScience

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions

Solar Impulse’s Main Partner Schindler, the leading elevator and escalator manufacturer, was ranked as one of the world’s most innovative companies by the American business magazine Forbes. This further proves the cutting-edge role Solar Impulse’s partners play on a global scale.

“This honor is a reflection of Schindler’s unwavering drive to continuously set new standards in the elevator industry with our innovative technology,” said Bill Fiacco, president, Sales & Marketing for Schindler North America. “We promote a concept of ‘mobility for all,’ designing systems that ensure everyone has accessibility to buildings and services, including destination-based and personal service technologies that address the changing needs of a modern world.”

Schindler joined Solar Impulse in September 2011. In its strive for ever more efficient, cleaner and sustainable mobility to address tomorrow’s challenges, Schindler and Solar Impulse were meant to become a team. Three Schindler engineers are currently embedded in the project offering their expertise in new technologies and research and development. It’s a win-win partnership with both actors benefitting from new insights into lightweight structures and modeling.

The entire Solar Impulse team congratulates Schindler for its achievements!