How Electric Aircraft Will Prevent Environmental Pollution And Reduce Costs
With the passage of time significant changes and improvements are coming in the aviation industry. From contactless technology, biometrics technology to airport planning, asset design or aircraft construction, digital solutions are emerging. Through these technologies, the use of electrical energy is also increasing in the aviation industry.
How Electric Aircraft Will Prevent Environmental Pollution And Reduce Costs
Through such changes, the world will take one more step towards the net zero target of carbon emissions at the international level. At the same time, the air passenger experience will be improved and the possibility of cheaper travel will also be created.
Electric aircraft could change the landscape of airports and air travel within the next decade. However, several challenges have to be overcome for this.
At the World Aviation Festival, Tom Mockett, director of aviation strategy at the Netherlands organization NACO, gave a speech on the future of electric aircraft. There, he discussed where the journey of ‘electric flying’ could take us in the coming years.
Why is ‘electric flying’ relevant for airports?
A key reason for this is sustainability. Currently, the aviation sector is responsible for about 3% of the world’s carbon emissions. By 2050, this number may increase to 20-50%.
Of the current 3% of carbon emissions in the aviation sector, 94% comes directly from airlines or aircraft. That’s why various companies and organizations that manage aviation are turning to electric flying or environmentally friendly fuels like hydrogen as a way to reduce their emissions.
Over the past few years we have seen various examples of ‘flight shaming’. Basically, the act of passengers contributing to the world’s carbon emissions by taking a flight is called ‘flight shaming’. Due to this, many passengers have started traveling by other means or vehicles instead of traveling by air.
However, to solve the problem of carbon emissions of aircraft, governments of different countries are taking various steps to make aviation environment-friendly at the national level and to set emission targets. For example, steps have already been taken to ban short-haul domestic flights in France.
Many organizations will take such steps in the future to move towards net zero goals. As a result, ‘electric flying’ can make the aviation industry environmentally friendly.
By taking these things into consideration, various airports in the country can also prepare for the future. Thus passengers and airlines using these airports will get various benefits.
How long before electricity-powered aircraft become a reality?
All-electric aircraft suitable for short distances have already been invented. These planes are mainly used for personal travel. Carbon emissions from these aircraft are significantly lower than conventional aircraft.
Many people are getting interested in such aircraft and its progress is also happening very fast. Hopefully, by 2026, we will see electric aircraft with a capacity of 19 passengers traveling a distance of about 500 km.
In this way, in a short time, small electric powered aircraft will start working. One of the best examples of this is the various island-based flights. There are many travelers to travel the short distance from one island to another.
In essence, electric aircraft are operating at short range right now. However, it has not yet reached the stage of commercialization.
What are the barriers to commercialization of electric powered aircraft?
Currently, the main obstacle in scaling up production and commercialization of electric powered aircraft is its battery.
Advances in the battery industry so far are limited in terms of technology and performance.
The weight, passenger capacity and flight range of passenger aircraft require batteries that are both relatively small in size and provide sufficient power. The amount of energy and power required to charge the plane quickly is also a challenge.
For these reasons, all major airlines in the world are still unable to use electric powered aircraft commercially.
But technology is advancing rapidly day by day. And as battery capacity increases in the future, larger aircraft will be able to travel longer distances.
How far can an electric plane travel?
Operating passenger electric aircraft requires new techniques. Airport location and airline network are very important in this strategy.
As mentioned earlier, currently developed electric powered aircraft have a short-range (about 200 km) distance to cover. But enough stable airline network is needed to normalize these flights.
In this case, electric powered aircraft can be launched more easily in various island states around the world.
Beyond that, adding electric aircraft to the country’s domestic flight fleet could be a great start. But in the beginning its distance should be less.
What kind of infrastructure development does an airport currently need for electric aircraft?
Airports preparing for electric flight services must focus on strategy, technology and implementation.
Currently there are some limitations of aircraft technology. They are short-range and low-powered. So at the moment electric flying or electric powered aircraft market is seen as a niche market. Hence having strategy to implement and make it usable is very important.
Discussions with everyone from investors to employees or passengers working at various levels of the aviation industry will be of great benefit. Concepts from their various perspectives or goals can be used to determine electric aviation strategies.
In terms of electric flying, its infrastructure, potential requirements and investment are quite important. These will help in electric aircraft technology and its implementation.
One of the most challenging and important issues for airports in the case of electric flights is to build infrastructure for charging and to increase the use of green energy or green energy systems. If airports adopt a combined approach of the two, future electric or hybrid-electric markets will thrive.
How to persuade passengers to board an electric plane
The key here is to engage passengers in this journey of electric flying. Passengers are becoming increasingly aware of their impact on the climate, and particularly the impact of aviation.
But people still want to travel the world. So they will undoubtedly have demand for alternative solutions.
The biggest hurdle for airports and airlines is presenting electric flying to passengers as an alternative to conventional air travel.
When things have been done the same way for decades, any idea of a completely new approach can raise doubts in people’s minds. The car industry also faced the same problem. But the industry has overcome such challenges in the last decade.
From this we understand how to overcome industry barriers and accelerate change by working together.
The most important thing to get passengers interested in electric flying is to show them its benefits. For example, informing passengers that the cost of electric flying will be within their means, and raising awareness about issues such as its safety and effectiveness.
Electric aircraft will simultaneously reduce the harmful impact on the environment and provide an excellent passenger experience.
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