3 ms·
What's the turnaround for the aircraft though? If they can't turn around an aircraft in 15-30 min, we'll need more aircraft or prices will skyrocket (no pun).
by JustSomeNobody 10y ago
What's the turnaround for the aircraft though? If they can't turn around an aircraft in 15-30 min, we'll need more aircraft or prices will skyrocket (no pun).
- notahacker 10y agoAny sensible proposal for electric systems for commercial aircraft is going to aim for batteries to be safely swappable in 10-15 minutes. (Though they can still make delays from unexpected diversions to airports without a stock of batteries worse)
- dx034 10y agoAnd then charge overnight and be used as energy storage for the time they're not in use. As flight times are very predictable, they should be a good use case for battery storage.
- jpm_sd 10y agoThe structural penalties for making "most of the weight of the aircraft" removable will probably lead to a plane that doesn't fly.
- JustSomeNobody 10y agoHmmm... I wonder. Let's say they design the aircraft around an existing battery (size/weight). If later technology allows for a lighter battery, would they they have to add the weight back in order to keep the cg correct?
- greglindahl 10y ago... for example, putting the batteries in the existing form-factor of removable cargo containers used in jumbo jets.
- rwmj 10y agoSupercapacitors could solve that, but unfortunately they currently have much less density even than batteries. Apparently graphene supercaps may solve that, but not at the moment.
- wlll 10y agoTesla style battery swap perhaps?
- fab13n 10y agoThey say they plan to package batteries are packaged as standard freight containers. Since current turnarounds include freight container swaps, I don't see why a battery swap wouldn't fit in it.