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I don't fully get it. How come an airplane can recharge its battery in flight? I was thinking it will need to use breaking energy at some point but airplanes ra

• toomuchtodo 12y ago
  It can run at the most efficient RPM band. Think of hybrid technology replacing transmissions. You're no longer dependent on mechanical linkage for efficiency. Diesel locomotives have used this advantage for 60+ years (generator runs at optimal speed, tied to electric motors; you'd destroy any transmission with the torque required to pull a freight train).
• phkahler 12y ago
  >> I don't fully get it. How come an airplane can recharge its battery in flight? In a normal plane takeoff is at full power, while cruise is at 75 percent power. So build a smaller engine that can achieve what the big one did at 80 percent and supplement takeoff with the electric motor. Now during cruise you can use the extra 5 percent to recharge the battery. Smaller engine = possibly better efficiency and weight.