Dan Warnick + 6,100 November 5, 2018 "Stumbled" across this MIT Technology Review article about electric airplanes. Pretty unbiased review with some big surprises (to me, at least), and it addresses problematic issues that will have to be faced as well. (I say "Stumbled" because I have to wonder if some algo or other is putting things like this in my path these days) A powerful new battery could give us electric planes that don’t pollute Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marina Schwarz + 1,576 November 5, 2018 Well, this is certainly interesting. Still far in the future, however. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DA? + 301 jh November 5, 2018 7 hours ago, Dan Warnick said: "Stumbled" across this MIT Technology Review article about electric airplanes. Pretty unbiased review with some big surprises (to me, at least), and it addresses problematic issues that will have to be faced as well. (I say "Stumbled" because I have to wonder if some algo or other is putting things like this in my path these days) A powerful new battery could give us electric planes that don’t pollute We heard it about cars, that it was impossible to create competitive EV's and their here, trucks are coming and now I hear how impossible battery powered planes are. They are being worked on and at least for short haul will make it, it seems and that is a big chunk of the market. Hoping to get out to MIT at some point been promised a tour around some of the more interesting parts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickW + 2,714 NW November 5, 2018 3 hours ago, DA? said: We heard it about cars, that it was impossible to create competitive EV's and their here, trucks are coming and now I hear how impossible battery powered planes are. They are being worked on and at least for short haul will make it, it seems and that is a big chunk of the market. Hoping to get out to MIT at some point been promised a tour around some of the more interesting parts. Aluminium air batteries offer the best energy densities and Aluminium is light and relatively cheap and abundant (most common metal on earth). There is a lot of research work going on in this area. A breakthrough in terms of durability and cost would herald a battery with storage capacities comparable to that of petrol which would open up many possibilities in terms of electric planes at least for short haul, shipping and would potentially wipe out the ICE for road transport. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Warnick + 6,100 November 5, 2018 3 hours ago, DA? said: We heard it about cars, that it was impossible to create competitive EV's and their here, trucks are coming and now I hear how impossible battery powered planes are. They are being worked on and at least for short haul will make it, it seems and that is a big chunk of the market. Hoping to get out to MIT at some point been promised a tour around some of the more interesting parts. I didn't take the article to say how impossible battery powered airplanes are; quite the opposite, really. That is what surprised me about it. Short haul aviation needs a boost and if this does it, I for one am all for it. Deregulation left many small markets unserved or severely underserved, and the reason was simple economics. I consider this development alone, which was a major plus cited in the article, to be a major win for all concerned. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DA? + 301 jh November 5, 2018 4 minutes ago, Dan Warnick said: I didn't take the article to say how impossible battery powered airplanes are; quite the opposite, really. That is what surprised me about it. Short haul aviation needs a boost and if this does it, I for one am all for it. Deregulation left many small markets unserved or severely underserved, and the reason was simple economics. I consider this development alone, which was a major plus cited in the article, to be a major win for all concerned. Sorry, didn't make myself clear, I totally agree with you. I'd love to see electric planes, make my carbon footprint a lot smaller. Also love to see airships catering for short haul small town to small town trips, hyperloop and even EV hotels, ride overnight in an EV with a bed. So many possibilities to make travel not such a nightmare it is now. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auson + 123 AD November 5, 2018 4 hours ago, DA? said: Sorry, didn't make myself clear, I totally agree with you. I'd love to see electric planes, make my carbon footprint a lot smaller. Also love to see airships catering for short haul small town to small town trips, hyperloop and even EV hotels, ride overnight in an EV with a bed. So many possibilities to make travel not such a nightmare it is now. DA, Total oil used by aviation last time I looked was approx 17% by far the largest use of Oil hence pollution from fossil fuels is personal transportation and small delivery vans. Also from a public health point of view in cities aircraft are not so important. So if the world can solve the small vehicle emission issue there really should be no need for fanciful electric ( non exisitent) passenger planes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DA? + 301 jh November 5, 2018 11 minutes ago, Auson said: DA, Total oil used by aviation last time I looked was approx 17% by far the largest use of Oil hence pollution from fossil fuels is personal transportation and small delivery vans. Also from a public health point of view in cities aircraft are not so important. So if the world can solve the small vehicle emission issue there really should be no need for fanciful electric ( non exisitent) passenger planes. All pollution is important and aircraft spread their pollution onto other countries. Electric planes will be cheaper to run and will be able to fly in and out of airports when normal jets are to loud. They are working on EP's just up the road from me, it's coming, in a while. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auson + 123 AD November 5, 2018 2 minutes ago, DA? said: All pollution is important and aircraft spread their pollution onto other countries. Electric planes will be cheaper to run and will be able to fly in and out of airports when normal jets are to loud. They are working on EP's just up the road from me, it's coming, in a while. I don't believe they are coming, there is not even a prototype electric passenger jet. Which means we must be at least 10 years away. I think we will always be 10 years away. Just my 2 cents Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DA? + 301 jh November 5, 2018 7 minutes ago, Auson said: I don't believe they are coming, there is not even a prototype electric passenger jet. Which means we must be at least 10 years away. I think we will always be 10 years away. Just my 2 cents Yeah, ten years isn't far, that's near term for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auson + 123 AD November 5, 2018 38 minutes ago, DA? said: Yeah, ten years isn't far, that's near term for me. I've waited in some long check in lines at airports before but 10 years would really take the biscuit. It would be like Tom Hanks in that film The Terminal ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DA? + 301 jh November 5, 2018 4 minutes ago, Auson said: I've waited in some long check in lines at airports before but 10 years would really take the biscuit. It would be like Tom Hanks in that film The Terminal ! Somethings can't be rushed, but worth waiting for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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