American tech billionaire Elon Musk has captured the world’s attention again after years of secret work at Space with the unveiling of his new $13 billion electric plane, which promises to transform the entire air transport industry.
Five years ago, Elon Musk discussed the potential of electric airplanes and its viability, while talking about all modes of transport going electric.
He said that in order to achieve long-range, commercial-sized electric aircraft, energy density must increase, underscoring the need for battery technology developments for electric aviation.
In terms of energy density, Musk clarified that jet fuel is superior to batteries, but the efficiency gains mean that a large amount of energy potential is not required.
He calculated that Li-Ion batteries would need to reach an energy density of 400 Wh/kg in order for batteries to outperform kerosene and for his electric aircraft to be feasible.
“Jet (kerosene) has much higher energy density than Lithium-ion (Li-ion), but electric motors weigh much less and convert stored energy to motion better than combustion engines,” Musk said at the time.
Fast-forward the hands of time, and Musk’s perspective now seems to be a reality with the unveiling of Tesla’s latest innovation, a US$13 billion electric aircraft, which has sent tongues wagging in the aviation industry.
According to him, the sleek, futuristic aircraft designed to operate entirely on electricity, boasting unmatched efficiency and speed, is set to reinvent air travel from ground up.
“We’re not just building another plane,” Musk announced at a Tesla event. “We’re reinventing air travel from the ground up.”
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Listed below are three reasons why the new electric plan unveiled by the tech billionaire who hinted at his interest in electric aircraft as far back as 2015 could be a game changer moving forward.
1.) Defies the laws of physics: Experts claim the electric plane defies the laws of physics in the area of Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL). The aircraft is said to be able to surpass conventional constraints because of developments in lightweight materials, aerodynamic designs, and energy-efficient propulsion systems brought about by Tesla’s collaboration with SpaceX experts.
The new electric aircraft is equipped with a Quantum Lift Propulsion System (QLPS), a state-of-the-art technology that dispenses with conventional jet engines and enables vertical takeoff and landing without need for a runway.
According to Musk, the QLPS, which could accelerate almost instantly without using conventional aerodynamics, is based on a combination of superconductors, electromagnetism, and cutting-edge Tesla battery technology.
2.) Eliminate over reliance of the use of fossil fuels: A major contributor to climate change and global warming, planes rely extensively on fossil fuels, particularly jet fuel, which emits harmful greenhouse gases like CO2 when used by plane owners.
Aside from cutting fuel and maintenance costs, Musk’s new electric plane could potentially be a game changer, as its non-dependence on fossil fuel may influence a discontinuation of the use of the flammable carbon compound, which poses other severe environmental consequences, including air and water pollution, climate change, through greenhouse emissions, acidification of oceans, and habitat destruction.
In line with international initiatives to address climate change and achieve sustainability goals, Tesla is leading the way in a new era of green aviation by fusing renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and aerospace engineering.
3.) Designed to operate entirely on electricity: In order to provide a propulsive push for flight, electrically powered aircraft transform electrical energy stored in batteries and use it to power an electric motor attached to a propeller (or fan). These aircraft may be more energy-efficient overall than those powered by conventional fuels.
Using high-efficiency electric motors for propulsion, Musk’s electric plane concept, which is powered by Tesla’s cutting-edge 4680 cells or solid-state batteries, aims for zero emissions and lower operating costs than conventional jet engines.
The aircraft is outfitted with Tesla’s in-house electric motors, which are renowned for their rapid torque and excellent efficiency (up to 95%), providing a more responsive and smooth flight experience than conventional combustion engines.
