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Are electric aircraft cheaper?
Electric aircraft will succeed by being cheaper and more versatile than their combustion-driven counterparts. Already the operating cost is falling. The Electro’s two battery packs, one in front of the cockpit, the other behind, must be replaced after 2,000 cycles (take-off and landings), roughly every four years.
How much does an electric airplane cost?
For $140,000, you can fly your own electric airplane. The Slovenian company Pipistrel sells the Alpha Electro, the first electric aircraft certified as airworthy by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2018.
How far can an electric plane fly?
Nasa has created the X-57, an experimental two-seater electric plane it expects will have a range of about 100 miles and a cruising speed of 172mph. Private companies, meanwhile, are eyeing smaller regional flights of up to 500 miles as a first step.
Why are electric planes better?
Jet fuel’s energy density, or how much energy you can get out of a substance, is about 50 times that of batteries — even if electric propulsion is more efficient at turning energy into motion. Liquid fuel burns off, so as you fly, planes actually get lighter.
Could electric planes be the future of air travel?
They’re betting on battery power as a cleaner alternative to jet fuel and hoping their prototypes will pave the way for a future of cheaper flights, quieter airports, and emissions-free air travel. Air travel is not good for the environment. Business Insider spoke with four aerospace firms betting on electric planes as a solution.
Should electric planes replace their batteries?
Electric planes may be substantially cheaper than their fossil-fuel counterparts, but it remains to be seen whether continually replacing the battery would be economical. When lithium-ion batteries are limited on planes due to safety concerns, it seems unlikely that planes using experimental, unsafe batteries will take to the skies any time soon.
What are the benefits of electric planes?
Electric planes promise big benefits for air passengers and the planet. New planes will mean quieter, more comfortable flights — and a lot less pollution.
Why is it so hard to get electric airplanes certified?
Narrator: The FAA amended its rules in 2016 to allow electric propulsion systems in airplanes built for up to 19 passengers. The real problem, though, is that certification, even with these amendments, takes years, so companies have gotten creative. They’ve started to retrofit old planes to get certified quicker.