Electric Aviation
Here’s a conference I won’t be attending, but not for lack of interest. The topic: the future of low-emission aviation. The speakers: spokespeople from GE, Honeywell, Airbus, Siemens, Rolls Royce, and NASA. Topics: See (impressive) list below.
So, what do we have here? An extremely solid introduction to a subject, currently in its infancy, that will be of great importance over the coming 50 years, driven by the world’s cessation of fossil fuel consumption and improvements in energy storage technology. Also, we need to keep in mind that, as our civilization uses less oil, the economies of scale associated with petroleum extraction will start to decay, and the price of the remaining gasoline, diesel and jet fuel will start to rise.
Why am I not going? I have no business interest in this industry, nor am I likely to develop one. As suggested in the speaker list, this is and will always be the purview of the top aviation OEMs. Also, it’s in Cologne, Germany; I reserve the international travel for must-attend events. Too bad; it won’t be the first landmark event to be hosted in Cologne; check this out.
Topics:
The possibilities created by aircraft hybridisation
Commercial aircraft application possibilities and research
Battery technologies
Electric motor technologies
Environmental impact
Real-world fuel-saving possibilities
Energy-storage systems
Solar possibilities
Efficiency and durability
Increasing flight range through hybridisation
The possibilities of pure electric-only commercial and military flight
Safety and legislative considerations
Case studies on existing global electric and hybrid research programmes
Overcoming engineering challenges
Best design practices
Investment possibilities
Additional advantages of increased electrification
Range-extender technologies
A few decades ago, there was a push to develop nuclear powered bombers. That was the impetus for developing the liquid fluoride thorium reactor (LFTR). A nuclear powered airplane would obviously be clean. However, I’m not sure that I’d like nuclear reactors flying overhead.
Airbus seems to have gone on record saying that the “future of aviation is electric” https://solarthermalmagazine.com/2016/07/26/airbus-says-future-aviation-electric/ But as I have elsewhere suggested. “Electric” can mean many things. Electric wheel motors for plans could be considered “Electric.”
Craig, while I understand your practical choices I find the comparison/contrast between electric aviation and ground electric vehicles a good mental exercise.
If atomic energy is ever used for either one I expect it to be in the form of atomic batteries or transmitted power.
@ Craig and Frank
Interesting topic Craig but that is a BIG Existing aviation player play as I see it . In what ever format they do create it will take deep dollars and time a league for Big Players…will be cool to see fossil Fuel lose that too.
But that will be slower than the Electric grid transformation. And look how hard this transformation has Been ?
Frank and Breath on Wind – the concept of nuclear powered airplane is not far fetched though really a Tough Lift. Frank ifyou go to Idaho National Lab and get the tour you will see a Tail of a large 4 engine airliner ( think it was a DC 6 ) well all you can see is the top of fuselage and the Tail piece sticking out from the Sagebrush high desert.
They built a small nuclear reactor and tried to fly the plane but It was too heavy to take off and the project was a dead weight Failure.
Was a early sign of more Nuclear Follies which have continued since the 1950’s
I pass on this its too far out there in future ….
But Craig right on, as you outline the effect on the fossil fuel industry as the consumption level will go to such a reduced level they will lose their economy of scale. The structural constraints is what Peak Oil is really more about. so if EV’s and other things happen, Smart Growth less urban sprawl, etc., the down ward spiral will continue. This latest contraction in Oil / Gas is going to see some players and support service / suppliers drop out of the supply chain.
its all good reduces carbon emissions. later
Silent,
I don’t know why they tried to fly the plane and THEN discovered that it couldn’t take off. Surely they could have figured out how much power they had available and determined the weight. From that they could have calculated whether take off would be possible.
@ Frank
Yeah your question begs the question I have no other answer except to be Sarcastic towards the Federal Group of self serving and budget preservation focused so called Atomic Energy experts ( the off shoot of the Cold War and all those Dynamics)
That is why the term NUCLEAR FOLLIES Fits and it alludes to a decades long period of countless mistakes and blunders.
If Craig does a Post on nuclear in general I have a couple more to Share on . Involves using nuclear for Fracturing gas wells!
Just my observation the Cold War caused many a un necessary project or small war and othr Unsavory behavior by US
just like Nine Eleven tragedy put some of America in a Freenzy so
deep and extreme they caually started allowing the Security organizations to start chipping away and taking away many of our Freedoms. Hysteria leads to half baked solutions and Repression and insideers make money like bandits!
I am sure some of those dynamics were at play in the dead weight nuclear airplane.
These things just don’t happen they are part of a sub cultural reaction ! So logic is thrown to the Winds !
Take Care Frank
Small electric planes are already in the sky.
http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/thomson-reuters-why-2025-matters/electric-flight/208/
For larger carrying capacity, I think hybrid airship / lifting body technology with lightweight solar cells on the upper surface may begin to become viable. Such craft would be heavier than air, but MUCH lighter than current technology and would fly at perhaps 100 to 150 mph from city center to city center with similar journey times to trains.
http://www.sciencealert.com/this-gigantic-chinese-airship-flies-on-solar-power-for-up-to-six-months-at-a-time