Originally Posted by
Rivet gun
I heard Oxis energy are setting up a factory in Wales to produce batteries including for electric aircraft. They claim to have achieved 400 Wh/Kg which I think is 1.44 MJ/Kg.
And jet fuel comes in at about 43 MJ/kg. Assuming 30% efficiency of the engine, that is equivalent to about 13 MJ/kg of usable energy. For 1000 pounds of jet fuel (about 450 kg) we have a usable energy of 5850 MJ. A battery of similar energy content would weigh about 4000 kg. and would not lose weight as energy is used. So with similar fuel weights the range of the electric airplane would be about 11% of a turbine powered plane; gasoline energy density is very similar to jet fuel. This is just quick calcs and of course I am ignoring things like the lighter motor for the electric and the changes in fuel consumption for the turbine engine over the course of the flight.
I'm not slagging the effort but electrics have a long way to go......