Originally Posted by
meleagertoo
How far would this thing go with 5000lb of Jet A1?
Unpressurized at 10000 ft, approximately 1500 nm.
Originally Posted by
meleagertoo
The gap in energy density is still around 40:1 in favour of hydrocarbon fuel.
You have to correct for efficiencies. An electric motor and inverter is about 90% while a turboprop is about 40-45% (actually a lot less if you include taxi and descent segments), so you are looking at a factor of less than 20:1 on jet fuel vs batteries today.
Long range applications will be out of reach for a very long time or will need a technology breakthrough, but short range stuff (less than 100 nm) is already technically and commercially viable today. Like small trainer aircraft (Pipistrel Alpha Electro), or very short range commuter aircraft in specific markets (eg. Harbour Air in Vancouver or Loganair's Orkney Inter Island service to name just two).