We need a step change, if we are to do for passenger flight what electric cars are already achieving. Electric air planes face the same challenges as electric vehicles, that is they need more power that lasts longer. Is this a case of reinventing the electric machine as Axios believes? We investigate and conclude this could be the case.
Reinventing Electric Batteries and Motors
Passenger airplane flight needs two things to happen, before 1,000-mile flights become possible for 100 passengers. Those two step-changes include batteries delivering more energy for longer, and electric motors consuming less energy especially during take-off.
Therefore, we need entrepreneurs willing to invest large sums of money to achieve these two goals. But some hopefuls have already burned their fingers with electric cars. U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency narrowed the gap this week for 12 programs, reinventing the electric machine.
Some of the grant beneficiaries are working towards the goal of electric airplanes transporting 100 passengers across 1,000 miles:
- Several, including Toshiba and Airbus are researching superconductor motors generating megawatts of power for jet aircraft.
- Others, including Natrion and NASA are investigating faster charging, solid-state batteries operating at higher temperatures.
However, this does not mean that the research is only within existing batteries. The field is wide open, and includes investigating new chemistries, and developing hybrid fuel-cell battery systems.
Super-Conducting Materials Could Be Game Changers
Axios believes that superconducting materials hold part of the answer. These are substances where electrical resistance vanishes, and magnetic fields are expelled from the material according to Wikipedia.
However, super-conductors only operate at extremely low temperatures. A variety of machines and options are under consideration. Taken together, we could say yes we really could be speaking of reinventing the electric machine someday soon.
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