This thread started more than three years ago with Adam concerned that he was sitting behind a piece of kit that was “just looking to screw me up.”

With Boeing’s current experience with batteries hasn’t that come full circle ?

It's not really surprising that the 787 has had problems with its batteries. Anyone flying model aircraft over the past decade might have predicted it. What is surprising is that there are now newer safer lithium batteries that modellers use, that apparently weren't chosen for the 787 because they were too new to certify...

Anyway, another development in 'battery' technology:

http://www.phinergy.com/default.asp?catid={E0C0EE82-1E6A-44B2-9F72-6A4E77ACE1C4}

This one is interesting in that it would give plenty of range for an electric aircraft. Perhaps it could be used in combination with a rechargeable battery so that you could enjoy an hour's flight (currently possible) but still have good reserves.

Perhaps eventually;

• The core of the wings and tail-boom etc. will be made of Ultra-capacitors.
• In very strong updrafts the propeller and its motor will be used to charge these capacitors.

Dave

Another step hybrid initiative
 

It appears that AgustaWestland has been tingering for the past couple of years with an interesting project. The "thing" is driven by electric motors powered by batteries, with plans for a diesel powered hybrid in the future.

Im not even sure it would be possible to struct the device without using electric motors....

http://http://www.agustawestland.com/node/6902

Dave Gittins - yes, Li-Ion can be volatile. But so is fuel. I hope the next generation of batteries will be safer. I'm sure they will be. One day someone will just figure power storage out, maybe by accident, and then everything will change overnight.

Lots of electric aircraft at the Paris Airshow, but this little E-Fan trainer from EADS looked ready to fly.

Being Electric Doesn't Keep This Plane From Serious Aerobatics | Autopia | Wired.com