Electric aircraft could soon become an industry standard

[rangerrebew]

Electric aircraft could soon become an industry standard

The aviation industry is on the verge of a major shift in propulsion, experts say.
Rob Mark/Flying Magazine April 4, 2018
 
 

This story was originally published by Flying Magazine.

As part of Siemens Innovation Day held recently in Chicago—created, in part, to highlight the company’s progress to date in the world of electric and hybrid electric aircraft—the German industrial giant offered a first U.S. look at its electric GA aircraft, a Magnus LSA fitted with a 55-kW Siemens electric motor.

Siemens vice president of electric and hybrid-electric propulsion Terry Hamlin said the company has no intention of becoming an OEM but wants to be part of the electric solution to the aviation industry by partnering with other companies to demonstrate its expertise in designing and building electric propulsion systems. Siemens is currently working closely with Airbus and Rolls-Royce on the eFan regional airplane.

https://www.popsci.com/electric-aircraft-industry-standard

[Smokin Joe]

I just want my flying car....

[GtHawk]

I just want my flying car....

A photo history of flying cars
 https://www.google.com/search?q=flying+car+images&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:Cag887_1xXTQtIjhprdYXKzD2HSLTrnqmTNFP1eOjmriDvj_1Wky-Ie2sE-FpEw63MkQEpPJ1jW3qYmTBd1fJZ0PNxVCoSCWmt1hcrMPYdEQnDZG7fI2N6KhIJItOueqZM0U8RMFXle9PzjkcqEgnV46OauIO-PxF5nCpHPoAAISoSCdaTL4h7awT4ESOG7_1zzO8HgKhIJWkTDrcyRASkRRVmuqvRMwvQqEgk8nWNbepiZMBFp-ruptrT3cioSCV3V8lnQ83FUEYoR7DVcUO7u&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-7_GCn8rbAhXWHDQIHRsZBsIQ9C96BAgBEBs&biw=1745&bih=851&dpr=1.1

[endicom]

This could make sense as liquid fuel is quite heavy and there's a lot more of it on takeoff than on landing.

@Machiavelli

[Fishrrman]

endicom wrote:
"This could make sense as liquid fuel is quite heavy and there's a lot more of it on takeoff than on landing."

What will a battery with sufficient power and longevity to power a commercial aircraft weigh?

A fully-fueled aircraft is "heavy" at takeoff, yes.
But the farther it flies, the lighter it gets.

How much lighter will a battery get as it discharges?

[endicom]

endicom wrote:
"This could make sense as liquid fuel is quite heavy and there's a lot more of it on takeoff than on landing."

What will a battery with sufficient power and longevity to power a commercial aircraft weigh?

They're getting lighter so I think they can be much lighter than liquid fuel.

[thackney]

They're getting lighter so I think they can be much lighter than liquid fuel.

They have a long way's to do to even get close.

Present-generation rechargeable lithium-ion batteries like those used in Tesla vehicles have an energy density of between .9 and 2.63 megajoules per kilogram. That means each kilogram of lithium battery is capable of storing the equivalent of .252 to .7364 kilowatt hours of electricity.

In contrast, gasoline has an energy density of 34.2 megajoules a liter, or the equivalent of 9.57 kilowatt hours of electricity. In other words, gasoline has around nine times the energy density of rechargeable lithium ion.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/2344175-teslas-real-problem-energy-density

[endicom]

They have a long way's to do to even get close.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/2344175-teslas-real-problem-energy-density

But electric motors are far more efficient than liquid fuel engines.

[thackney]

But electric motors are far more efficient than liquid fuel engines.

Yes they are.  But not 9 times more efficient.

With electric power, most of the energy losses come long before it reaches the battery.  Which is helpful for this comparison, but not enough.