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The key thing often missed is that jet fuel is much better than it needs to be, particularly for domestic flights. Batteries don't need to equal jet fuel in or

The key thing often missed is that jet fuel is much better than it needs to be, particularly for domestic flights. Batteries don't need to equal jet fuel in order for electric air travel to be viable. We have airplanes capable of 15,000km trips. But we were making transatlantic flights back when our aircraft could only do about 2000km range reliably. Going from from Labrador, Canada to Greenland to Iceland to England, the minimum hop distance is about 1200km. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight#/media/File:Aaffc-routes-jun-1942.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight#/media/Fi... I don't expect electric air travel to operate Transatlantic flights with 1.5MJ/kg batteries as major competitor to jet travel unless there's a very hard clampdown on greenhouse gas emissions. The logistics of adding major stops in Greenland and northern Canada to enable transAtlantic electric flight just likely won't be worth it. But for domestic flights (which are the majority of flights), electric air travel will be common. Source for ~1.5MJ/kg batteries: https://sionpower.com https://sionpower.com https://oxisenergy.com https://oxisenergy.com

godelski 7y ago
Most of these discussions I see, at least on HN, seem to understand efficiency. Yeah, a lot of fuel goes into heat and not into power for the engine. People understand that. But another thing that many people don't, is that heating isn't wasted energy. It is reclaimed for heating the cabin and deicing. Which icing is a HUGE problem on aircraft. Heating is also fairly power intensive. But still, until we get into that efficiency range of batteries vs direct power of jet fuel, it is far from solved. But like you mention with greenhouse gasses, it does have to be solved. I have yet to see anyone here that is doubtful that electric aircraft will exist. I just see people (at least on HN) that are either bearish or bullish. But don't be hostile to people that are being bearish. We need both camps.
- igor47 7y ago
  Batteries also produce heat. Also -- it's pretty easy to be negative. "That's dumb, it's not going to work", etc... I really appreciate this poster remaining positive in the face of OVERWHELMING negative feedback on this thread.
  - godelski 7y ago
    Batteries don't produce nearly as much heat. And like I said, we need both camps. And I don't think you should take my comments as "that's dumb, it's not going to work." You should take them more as "we still got a way to go but we've made a lot of progress. But don't bet all your money on this horse."

godelski 7y ago

Most of these discussions I see, at least on HN, seem to understand efficiency. Yeah, a lot of fuel goes into heat and not into power for the engine. People understand that. But another thing that many people don't, is that heating isn't wasted energy. It is reclaimed for heating the cabin and deicing. Which icing is a HUGE problem on aircraft. Heating is also fairly power intensive. But still, until we get into that efficiency range of batteries vs direct power of jet fuel, it is far from solved. But like you mention with greenhouse gasses, it does have to be solved. I have yet to see anyone here that is doubtful that electric aircraft will exist. I just see people (at least on HN) that are either bearish or bullish. But don't be hostile to people that are being bearish. We need both camps.

igor47 7y ago
Batteries also produce heat. Also -- it's pretty easy to be negative. "That's dumb, it's not going to work", etc... I really appreciate this poster remaining positive in the face of OVERWHELMING negative feedback on this thread.
- godelski 7y ago
  Batteries don't produce nearly as much heat. And like I said, we need both camps. And I don't think you should take my comments as "that's dumb, it's not going to work." You should take them more as "we still got a way to go but we've made a lot of progress. But don't bet all your money on this horse."