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The airplane would be a bit heavier at landing, though. I expect that will require a somewhat heavier landing gear. I also think taking out the weight of the t

The airplane would be a bit heavier at landing, though. I expect that will require a somewhat heavier landing gear. I also think taking out the weight of the tank is unfair if you don’t add weight for the structures for holding the batteries. But yes, for many smaller planes, we’re close to flying electric on shorter flights being economically feasible.

krasin 4y ago
Fair points. But the point that CATL makes with this announce is that before this capacity boost, electric planes were a complete joke. Now, they are only somewhat funny. What I am more excited about is that electrically pumped rockets are now a lot more practical. As an example, Electron is such a rocket ([1]). It can now reduce the weight of the battery pack and increase payload. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherford_(rocket_engine) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherford_(rocket_engine)
- lylejantzi3rd 4y ago
  > before this capacity boost, electric planes were a complete joke. Now, they are only somewhat funny. Ha! Well put.
ozim 4y ago
Maybe dropping battery just before landing could be a thing - on a small parachute or some catch ground in front of landing strip. Silly as it sounds just thinking :)
- jansan 4y ago
  Sounds about as realistic as shooting nuclear waste into space.
  - midoridensha 4y ago
    Nuclear waste can be stored on the Moon. Just be careful that it doesn't overheat and turn into a giant rocket, propelling the Moon out of the solar system.
- idontwantthis 4y ago
  I have an imagined invention where battery packs drop off an electric jet as it cruises and they glide to a landing somewhere when they are out of power.
phreeza 4y ago
The maximum take off and landing weights for a Cessna 172 are the same, so I don't think a heavier landing gear would be required.
vezuchyy 4y ago
Harbour Air successfully tested electric plane based on De Havilland Beaver. This is still a super short distance but I think the longest route Harbour air has is Vancouver <-> Seattle and it's a 55 minute flight.
- liketochill 4y ago
  Whistler Victoria is about that long too

krasin 4y ago

Fair points. But the point that CATL makes with this announce is that before this capacity boost, electric planes were a complete joke. Now, they are only somewhat funny. What I am more excited about is that electrically pumped rockets are now a lot more practical. As an example, Electron is such a rocket ([1]). It can now reduce the weight of the battery pack and increase payload. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherford_(rocket_engine) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherford_(rocket_engine)

lylejantzi3rd 4y ago
> before this capacity boost, electric planes were a complete joke. Now, they are only somewhat funny. Ha! Well put.

ozim 4y ago

Maybe dropping battery just before landing could be a thing - on a small parachute or some catch ground in front of landing strip. Silly as it sounds just thinking :)

jansan 4y ago
Sounds about as realistic as shooting nuclear waste into space.
- midoridensha 4y ago
  Nuclear waste can be stored on the Moon. Just be careful that it doesn't overheat and turn into a giant rocket, propelling the Moon out of the solar system.
idontwantthis 4y ago
I have an imagined invention where battery packs drop off an electric jet as it cruises and they glide to a landing somewhere when they are out of power.

phreeza 4y ago

The maximum take off and landing weights for a Cessna 172 are the same, so I don't think a heavier landing gear would be required.

vezuchyy 4y ago

Harbour Air successfully tested electric plane based on De Havilland Beaver. This is still a super short distance but I think the longest route Harbour air has is Vancouver <-> Seattle and it's a 55 minute flight.

liketochill 4y ago
Whistler Victoria is about that long too