Race to jet zero
Aviation is one of the most polluting industries, with roughly 100,000 flights taking off and landing around the globe daily. A return flight from London to San Francisco emits half of the average yearly carbon footprint of someone living in Britain. Aerospace is racing towards electric; although this is a challenge, it’s making the aviation industry rethink its old ways of working.
Flightpath 2050
During the recent COP26 talks, aviation aims to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 75% and nitrogen oxide by 90% by 2050. Within the next 20 years, the number of commercial aircraft in the sky is predicted to double and by 2050, 10 billion passengers will fly every year.
“If that trend continues, then aviation is going to become one of the top polluters in all industry sectors,” said Susan Ying, senior manager at electric aircraft company Ampaire, in a NOVA documentary.
Hybrid and all-electric aircrafts are the most promising solution, for the aviation industry to dramatically reduce their environmental impacts.
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Technology surrounding electric aviation is developing rapidly and is seen as the third generation of aviation. Rolls Royce, Siemens and Airbus are leading the way in the development of commercial electric aviation.
Utilising Electric and Hybrid engines will not only reduce direct carbon emissions to the planet, but they will also improve the performance and efficiency of aircrafts by 99%. Electric engines can reduce fuel costs by up to 90% and maintenance needed by 50%. Although air routes are designed to reduce noise pollution to heavily populated areas, in the UK over 1 million people are exposed to the above levels of aviation noise, that are recommended for the protection of health. An electric aircraft will reduce the noise produced by nearly 70%. The aircrafts will only produce noise during take-off and landing. Here’s hoping these added benefits will bring cheaper airfares to travellers.
Electric aircrafts may be the finish line, but there are still a few more hurdles to overcome. Battery limitations mean that there is a limited distance of travel before they would require re-charging, in addition to weight restrictions, with electric aircrafts only able to carry less than 100 people. The batteries needed are heavier than standard fuel and take up more space, as energy propulsion needs energy storage, power electronics, distribution buses and cooling systems. To power one jumbo jet, the weight of an electric battery would need eight jet planes to carry the additional weight. Current batteries have a fraction of the energy density of aviation fuels and higher-performing batteries are yet to be commercialised, meaning long-haul aircraft is likely to remain on liquid fuel for decades to come.
Electric Revolution
Although electric planes are still in their infancy, private companies and governments have taken the electric limitations and turned them into an innovative outcome.
France will begin testing electric air taxis to be used throughout the 2024 summer Olympics. The goal is to create two flight paths to ferry passengers to link Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Le Bourget airports and the other between the southwest and French capital suburbs.
In addition, Rolls Royce claims to have created the fastest all-electric plane and setting three new world records! It has broken records of speed over a distance, the fastest time to climb 3,000 metres by 60 seconds and reaching the fastest maximum speed of 387mph.
Need for Speed
A demand for speed, performance and power management has provided the perfect basis to develop Air Race E. An ambitious project of air motorsport, accelerating aviation and motorsport into the future with an all-electric aeroplane racing championship. Eight planes race directly against one another around a circuit of 1.5km at speeds of up to 280mph.
It seems a long way off for jumbo jets to whisk us away on holiday, on an all-electric flight. Overcoming the limitations of an electric battery is the main priority for the aviation industry to reach its goal by 2050. Could an earlier adoption in electric aviation be achievable? Tesla is heavily investing in electric flight and say they could achieve the needed power as early as 2023.
If you are an innovator in the aerospace sector, then we would love to hear your insight. Get in touch.