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I believe the big difference is that electric engines are wildly more reliable than piston engines. That allows less maintenance and shorter turnaround times, s
by patmcguire 8y ago
I believe the big difference is that electric engines are wildly more reliable than piston engines. That allows less maintenance and shorter turnaround times, so it spends more time in the air than turboprops can.
- rbanffy 8y agoTurboprops don't use piston engines.
- nine_k 8y agoTurbines are not very low-maintenance, too. At least, electric motors are likely lower maintenance than turbines.
- rbanffy 8y agoThat's probably true, but I don't think we have much experience with electric motors operating in high altitude at the power levels required by planes. It'll be some time before we have as good an understanding as we have with jet engines, turboprops and piston engines. Remember these engines will cycle through extreme temperature changes every day of their active lives.
- nine_k 8y agoYes, they will be quite hot, just below the Curie point of the magnets, during flights, especially during take-offs, and ambient temperature when on land (which can easily be freezing at winter time). I wonder how much different it's from terrestrial electric motors that are not constantly powered. They don't have the weight limitations, though.