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I've been seeing these news articles popup every few weeks. Some new startup is flying with an electric motor and batteries. It always leaves me wondering, why

I've been seeing these news articles popup every few weeks. Some new startup is flying with an electric motor and batteries. It always leaves me wondering, why are so many of these GA retrofits going with batteries instead of a hydrogen power plant? Is it just "simplicity" or are they betting that batteries are going to shed substantial weight in the coming years?

na85 6y ago
I'd wager it's because a lot of them fly to places where electricity is widely available but pressurized hydrogen refueling is not.
jillesvangurp 6y ago
Procuring hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cells, or hydrogen storage is a bit of an unsolved problem. The infrastructure is simply not there. Also I don't think there are aviation rated fuel cells available yet. And storing lots of hydrogen under high pressure is also a bit of a weight issue for planes given it requires extreme pressures and heavy duty tanks. Also, there's the cost of fuel. Hydrogen is not cheap. Electricity is. And that's before you consider the infrastructure. A battery can be plugged in anywhere you can get electricity. Which is pretty much everywhere. Hydrogen requires (currently) non existent supply chains, transport, storage, pumping, etc. infrastructure. There are some decent batteries on the market and better ones are on the way. Also, there's a difference between shoving a tonne of battery into an existing plane and using e.g. structural batteries to strengthen the fuselage of a purposely designed plane. So, yes, you should expect some improvements in range with the coming few years as technology, designs, and thinking evolves. I think 2-3X range improvement is basically a given in the next 15 years or so. Current electric planes actually flying use technology that was certified years ago (it's a slow process) that are hardly state of the art at this point.
- Hypx 6y ago
  https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/hydrogen/protium-secures-funding-to-develop-pathway-for-20210125 https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/hydrogen/protium-sec... You're probably out of date with your info. Hydrogen based aircraft are happening now.

na85 6y ago

I'd wager it's because a lot of them fly to places where electricity is widely available but pressurized hydrogen refueling is not.

jillesvangurp 6y ago

Procuring hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cells, or hydrogen storage is a bit of an unsolved problem. The infrastructure is simply not there. Also I don't think there are aviation rated fuel cells available yet. And storing lots of hydrogen under high pressure is also a bit of a weight issue for planes given it requires extreme pressures and heavy duty tanks. Also, there's the cost of fuel. Hydrogen is not cheap. Electricity is. And that's before you consider the infrastructure. A battery can be plugged in anywhere you can get electricity. Which is pretty much everywhere. Hydrogen requires (currently) non existent supply chains, transport, storage, pumping, etc. infrastructure. There are some decent batteries on the market and better ones are on the way. Also, there's a difference between shoving a tonne of battery into an existing plane and using e.g. structural batteries to strengthen the fuselage of a purposely designed plane. So, yes, you should expect some improvements in range with the coming few years as technology, designs, and thinking evolves. I think 2-3X range improvement is basically a given in the next 15 years or so. Current electric planes actually flying use technology that was certified years ago (it's a slow process) that are hardly state of the art at this point.

Hypx 6y ago
https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/hydrogen/protium-secures-funding-to-develop-pathway-for-20210125 https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/hydrogen/protium-sec... You're probably out of date with your info. Hydrogen based aircraft are happening now.