Why Electric Aircraft Could be the Next Big Thing in Aviation
Right, where to start, then. Electric cars have seemingly taken over the roads, electric boats are cutting through our waters, and electric bikes – well, they're whizzing past every traffic jam I'm stuck in. It all begs the question: where in the name of Captain Biggles are our electric planes?
You'd think, wouldn't you, that we'd have airliners as silent as libraries and as clean as a polished Aston Martin by now. But instead, we're still pumping thousands of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere like some sort of global party popper – and trust me, the environment isn't celebrating.
So, what's the hold-up with electric aircraft? Why hasn't the aviation industry, famed for its innovation, jumped on the electric bandwagon, or should I say electric propeller?
The thing is, it's not for lack of trying. Electric aviation is a buzzword that's been thrown around for years now. In fact, we've already got electric drones, and there have even been electric flight demonstrations. But you see, making a small drone hover above your garden is one thing, but sending a Boeing 747 from London to New York on a single charge, well, that’s something else entirely.
There's the issue of weight, for starters. Batteries are heavy buggers. Seriously heavy. Now, don't get me wrong, I've never personally attempted to lift a plane, but I imagine it's a bit tricky. And filling said plane with a mass of batteries? That's like trying to make a sumo wrestler float by strapping a propeller to his back. There’s a reason balloons don't come in 'heavy'.
However, just when you thought all was lost, along come some brainboxes saying they've got the answer: lighter, more energy-dense batteries. These miracle power packs are supposedly lighter and can hold more juice. We're talking the sort of power that makes an electric toothbrush look like, well, an ordinary toothbrush.
And then, there's the small issue of charging these behemoth batteries. It's all well and good having a battery that can power a plane, but if it takes three days to charge the thing, it rather takes the fun out of your weekend trip to Ibiza, doesn't it? It’s not quite the same shouting, "Last one in the pool buys the drinks!" if you’re still stuck on the tarmac.
Yet, we're hearing whispers of super-fast charging technology, promising to get you off the ground faster than you can say "Did I remember to pack my passport?"
And believe it or not, we are already witnessing the dawn of this electric future. Sure, the sun hasn’t fully risen yet, but the first few rays of light are beginning to pierce the pre-dawn sky. Take, for example, Lilium Jet – an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) air taxi, currently undergoing testing. With a range of up to 300 km and a top speed of 300 km/h, this sleek craft is leading the charge in the race to electrify our skies.
Then there’s Eviation Alice, another promising contender. This all-electric plane aims to shuttle up to nine passengers on regional routes of about 1,000 kilometers - a range that, while not yet competing with transatlantic flights, is significant enough to disrupt regional air travel as we know it. It is currently undergoing rigorous flight tests, and if successful, could be a game-changer in making air travel more sustainable.
So, while the reality of you and me jetting off in a Tesla-style aircraft seems unlikely, it's not completely out of the question. The technological challenges are massive, but the potential rewards are astronomical – a quieter, cleaner, and more sustainable future for aviation.
Let's not forget the environmental benefits this would bring. Emissions from air travel account for about 2.5% of global carbon emissions. With the continued development of electric aircraft, we have the potential to significantly reduce, or even eliminate this percentage, making the world a cleaner and greener place.
That’s what we call flying by the seat of our pants, quite literally! And wouldn't it be brilliant? So, as you can see, we've already embarked on the journey towards electric aircraft. Sure, we may not be booking our all-electric holiday flights just yet, but stay patient and keep your seatbelts fastened. Because in this new age of aviation, the sky’s not the limit – it’s the destination.
