Reliability of ELECTRIC airplanes in question
#1
Reliability of ELECTRIC airplanes in question
FAA Stance on Electric Airplanes: No Passengers | Flying Magazine
FAA says NO to passengers in electric airplanes at this point (even though they aren't in the US yet).
What says the engineer types on the forum.
Are electric airplanes safe(er)?
Do you think they will make it in the market when they are available to the general public?
FAA says NO to passengers in electric airplanes at this point (even though they aren't in the US yet).
What says the engineer types on the forum.
Are electric airplanes safe(er)?
Do you think they will make it in the market when they are available to the general public?
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 474
I'm not an engineer but a big follower of the electrification (word?) of the automobile. I read that brief article too and thought it was interesting. In theory, an airplane with an electric motor should be a lot more reliable than a recip engine, but I guess until the "new" technology (battery and engine) gets a track record in aviation, I can see why they might want to proceed cautiously.
#5
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,091
The engines should be super reliable, and should have great performance at higher altitudes.
It's the batteries I'm worried about. Battery technology just isn't where it needs to be for me to even consider an electric car yet.
It's the batteries I'm worried about. Battery technology just isn't where it needs to be for me to even consider an electric car yet.
#7
Engines are good to go, better power density than pistons and probably turbines. Probably better reliability when built to appropriate standards.
Batteries can be reliable, compact, or cheap...pick one or maybe two at best.
I'm sure you could make a lithium battery/electric motor combo which would far exceed the reliability of current propulsion systems. But it would be very expensive.
For example I suspect that lithium batteries need a temperature and pressure controlled environment...basically the battery needs is own pressure container with thermal controls. They also probably need extreme quality control in design and construction, and probably active vibration damping. On top of that you need containment that can withstand a full runway, and at least two parallel units for redundancy. It can be done, but it won't be cheap, or very compact/light.
Batteries can be reliable, compact, or cheap...pick one or maybe two at best.
I'm sure you could make a lithium battery/electric motor combo which would far exceed the reliability of current propulsion systems. But it would be very expensive.
For example I suspect that lithium batteries need a temperature and pressure controlled environment...basically the battery needs is own pressure container with thermal controls. They also probably need extreme quality control in design and construction, and probably active vibration damping. On top of that you need containment that can withstand a full runway, and at least two parallel units for redundancy. It can be done, but it won't be cheap, or very compact/light.
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 474
For example I suspect that lithium batteries need a temperature and pressure controlled environment...basically the battery needs is own pressure container with thermal controls. They also probably need extreme quality control in design and construction, and probably active vibration damping. On top of that you need containment that can withstand a full runway, and at least two parallel units for redundancy. It can be done, but it won't be cheap, or very compact/light.
#9
Why not? What battery technology do you want to see before you buy an electric car?
I would assume that if you wanted any significant amount of battery capacity, they would be placed in the wings. That would provide enough vibration protection. Temperature protection....air cooling might be pretty sufficient considering how fast aircraft fly. 1/2 the battery capacity in each wing, there's the parallel redundancy. Not sure about needing a pressure container. The batteries are sealed. Full runaway protection....yeah that would be a concern I guess. There are lots of electric cars driving around, and I have only heard of two or three thermal runaways. All were caused by some sort of catastrophic penetration of the battery case caused by the car being crash tested, being involved in a car accident, and a pretty good chunk of road debris. Perhaps they could engineer some sort of venting if a segment of the cells over-pressurizes, similar to what Boeing did with the 787.
I would assume that if you wanted any significant amount of battery capacity, they would be placed in the wings. That would provide enough vibration protection. Temperature protection....air cooling might be pretty sufficient considering how fast aircraft fly. 1/2 the battery capacity in each wing, there's the parallel redundancy. Not sure about needing a pressure container. The batteries are sealed. Full runaway protection....yeah that would be a concern I guess. There are lots of electric cars driving around, and I have only heard of two or three thermal runaways. All were caused by some sort of catastrophic penetration of the battery case caused by the car being crash tested, being involved in a car accident, and a pretty good chunk of road debris. Perhaps they could engineer some sort of venting if a segment of the cells over-pressurizes, similar to what Boeing did with the 787.
At the energy density and quantity required for propulsion it would hard to contain a runaway without impractically heavy structures.
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,091
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