ABB forms technology alliance with Solar Impulse

ABB HQ

ABB, a company specializing in renewable, sustainable transportation and energy efficient technologies, has partnered with Solar Impulse, the innovator behind the world’s first round-the-world flight concept powered by the sun.

The Solar Impulse endeavor, introduced by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, is the first ever flight through the night with a solar airplane that has set a record-breaking mission across Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the United States. It demonstrates the potential of clean technologies and showing how a pioneering spirit can achieve the impossible.

ABB HQ

Now the Solar Impulse team is preparing for the ultimate technological challenge: to circumnavigate the globe in a plane powered only by the sun’s energy. On April 9, the team will unveil a new airplane, which will be used to attempt the round-the-world flight in 2015.

ABB will support Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg in their attempt to fly around the world in a solar powered airplane in 2015.

“This partnership brings together two Swiss-based global leaders that are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation to achieve a better world,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer.

“Solar Impulse and ABB are technology innovators and pioneers,” said Andre Borschberg, Co-founder and CEO of Solar Impulse. “We both want to motivate people to use clean technologies; ABB and Solar Impulse will work together on key technologies like power electronics for our mutual benefit.”

ABB has been involved in a number of initiatives leveraging solar and wind energy. In March 2014, ABB announced that it would be building the world’s largest network of new-generation, fast chargers for electric cars in China.

Also read: ABB wins contract to support smart grid project in Italy

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