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Air travel goes electric

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by clett, Jan 4, 2008.

  1. clett

    clett New Member

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    Check this out:

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3123681.ece

    A French group have created and tested a battery electric fixed-wing aircraft.

    It's early days yet for this technology, but for this world-first they did manage a 48 minute flight over the Alps using just 48 kg of lithium-polymer batteries.

    I like this quote: "When we began, nobody believed we could do it." Well I would have done! :)

    To make the switch to faster, larger, long-range battery-electric aircraft will require changing up from 200 Wh/kg LiPoly to 3,000 Wh/kg lithium-air couples (15 times longer range).
     
    #1 clett, Jan 4, 2008
  2. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    How cool is that!!
     
    #2 patsparks, Jan 4, 2008
  3. Earthling

    Earthling New Member

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    That's amazing. I've known about electric-powered radio controlled model airplanes that were electric-powered, but I didn't think a full-sized plane could ever fly.

    Harry
     
    #3 Earthling, Jan 4, 2008
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    It's all just upscaled I guess from an electric model plane, instead of using a pack of double AA batteries it uses a pack of Double XX batteries. :D
    Electric would be good in a light aircraft because of high torque and low noise because light planes spend a lot of their time near urban areas and torque for takeoffs.

    Not sure it would be feasible to upscale to a jet size because they are more efficient and the electric power has to come from somewhere.
     
    #4 patsparks, Jan 4, 2008
  5. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Well, for long range there is still the Dirigible.
     
    #5 Godiva, Jan 4, 2008
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Very cool.

    Imagine how quiet air travel can be without the turbines.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jan 4, 2008
  7. sulman

    sulman Introspectator

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    Now, if they could just shut up the screaming babies.
     
    #7 sulman, Jan 4, 2008
  8. AussieOwner

    AussieOwner Active Member

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    lol

    These are definitely nosier than those engines;)
     
    #8 AussieOwner, Jan 5, 2008
  9. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I hear electricity can be used for that too! <evil grin>
    or book a seat at the back of the plane, it's nice n quiet back there.
     
    #9 patsparks, Jan 5, 2008
  10. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    That's very awesome. I wonder is harder creating a commercial plane from nothing(something humans have mamaged to do) or create commercial electrical planes.
     
    #10 burritos, Jan 5, 2008
  11. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Yeah, and how cool would it be to have electric-power dirigibles?
     
    #11 TonyPSchaefer, Jan 5, 2008
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