Summary by ATFCars.com

Referenced article published on suasnews.com on April 28, 2023 written by Tad McGeer. Link to original article:

The total impracticality of electric aviation

Imagine stepping into a fantastical future where air cabs and electric planes zip across the sky, revolutionizing our entire notion of transportation! This bold promise of a radiant, airborne world echoes through the pages of not just technical aviation journals, but heavyweight publications like The Economist and The New Yorker as well. Yet, it’s essential to temper our sky-high dreams with a splash of reality.

Electric aviation, as magical as it sounds, faces a colossal challenge: the harsh truth of energy density. Electric batteries, even the best ones, are more than ten times heavier than gasoline for the same amount of energy delivered. It’s as if we’re trying to swap a featherweight sprinter for a burly weightlifter in a long-distance race.

Now, electric power works wonders on roads, with cars like Tesla’s proving their mettle despite their heavier footprint. Cars aren’t as fussy about extra weight and can make up for it with gains in efficiency. Yet, in the sky, every extra ounce can spell doom. Only where fuel is a small fraction of total vehicle mass, as in self-launching sailplanes that only use their engines for a few minutes, could electric power feasibly take flight.

Electric aviation is not without its champions, however, with concepts of electric urban air taxis making waves. But remember, these machines have to strike a fine balance between carrying enough battery power to outpace surface transport, and not carrying so much that they can’t lift their intended passengers. A challenging task indeed, considering even helicopters with traditional fuel have struggled to make this concept viable.

The electrification of the transportation industry is vital for sustainability, and every leap forward in electrifying cars, boats, and trains holds promise. Yet, for now, it seems aviation will continue to ride on the back of the internal combustion engine and other potential alternatives, such as hydrogen fuel.

Indeed, our hopes must take flight on the wings of reality. But let’s not dismiss our dreams entirely. For it’s from these dreams that the greatest of our innovations are born, spurring us towards a brighter and cleaner future!