This Is What's Keeping Electric Planes From Taking Off

Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:

Startups are exploring how electric planes could clean up air travel, which accounts for about 3% of worldwide greenhouse-gas emissions. The problem is that today's electric aircraft could safely carry you and about a dozen fellow passengers only around 30 miles, according to a recent analysis.

The limiting factor is the battery, in particular the amount of energy that can be stored in a small space. If you've folded your legs into a cramped window seat or been charged extra for overweight luggage, you're probably familiar with the intense space and weight constraints on planes.

[...] Batteries have been packing more power into smaller spaces for about 30 years, and continuing improvements could help electric planes become a more feasible option for flying. But they're not there yet, and ultimately, the future of electric planes may depend on the future of progress in battery technology.

The prospect of electric flight is appealing in many ways. Aviation contributes a growing share of the global greenhouse-gas emissions that cause climate change, and battery-powered planes could help speed decarbonization in a growing sector.

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