A historic electric airplane flight landed at JFK with passengers, marking a milestone as Beta Technologies demonstrates the practicality and efficiency of electric air travel.
There are a lot of other factors. For example, electric motors with propellers are far more efficient than turbofans
A propeller driven airplane will also be substantially slower than a turbofan one, allowing for unswept wings and better aerodynamic efficiency
In reality, battery powered passenger planes aren’t impossible but they will definitely have a shorter range and slower speed. They are realistically only suited for regional routes.
Perfect is the enemy of good. There are so many people at least here in Europe that fly easy-jet/ryanair 1h to 2h flights, these could all still work with propeller planes. But frankly I’m just wondering why I can’t get subsidized trains that would be actually affordable. Right now it remains cheaper to drive all alone in my car than get an Eurostar ticket unless I planned it months in advance (spoilers: I can’t plan months in advance most of the time with my work).
This would be perfect for Norway. Oslo-Trondheim and Oslo-Bergen is consistently among the most trafficked air routes in Europe and the train ride is 7-8 hours. I love trains and use them whenever I can and even though I believe we should get better train infrastructure between the largest cities I also concede the fact that beyond those it’s just not practical with trains all the way up north or out to the small coast communities.
Electric planes with a few hundred kilometers reach would suite our domestic travel juuust fine. I might even have started my European interrail trip with a short flight to Oslo or Copenhagen if electric planes where doable and reasonable (in terms of both cost and emissions).
There are a lot of other factors. For example, electric motors with propellers are far more efficient than turbofans
A propeller driven airplane will also be substantially slower than a turbofan one, allowing for unswept wings and better aerodynamic efficiency
In reality, battery powered passenger planes aren’t impossible but they will definitely have a shorter range and slower speed. They are realistically only suited for regional routes.
Perfect is the enemy of good. There are so many people at least here in Europe that fly easy-jet/ryanair 1h to 2h flights, these could all still work with propeller planes. But frankly I’m just wondering why I can’t get subsidized trains that would be actually affordable. Right now it remains cheaper to drive all alone in my car than get an Eurostar ticket unless I planned it months in advance (spoilers: I can’t plan months in advance most of the time with my work).
Agreed. A plane that can do 200ish knots for a few hours could hit a nice sweet spot for a lot of routes
This would be perfect for Norway. Oslo-Trondheim and Oslo-Bergen is consistently among the most trafficked air routes in Europe and the train ride is 7-8 hours. I love trains and use them whenever I can and even though I believe we should get better train infrastructure between the largest cities I also concede the fact that beyond those it’s just not practical with trains all the way up north or out to the small coast communities.
Electric planes with a few hundred kilometers reach would suite our domestic travel juuust fine. I might even have started my European interrail trip with a short flight to Oslo or Copenhagen if electric planes where doable and reasonable (in terms of both cost and emissions).