Here is a review of some of the major issues confronting the electrification of air travel. Battery capacity remains a major limitation as lithium batteries are as yet nowhere near as energy dense as liquid fuels. Battery cooling is another issue and inverters need to be developed specifically for air travel.
While there are electric planes on the market none of these planes are capable of flights longer than 100 miles. Only 5 percent of global airline flights are 100 miles or less. With a top speed of
337 KPH (210 MPH) these planes are also slow compared to traditional aircraft.
There are unique design options that can help to make electric planes more viable. This includes smaller wings, more motors, and better aerodynamics. We will also need to see regulations developed to accommodate electric flight.
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