More airlines are purchasing battery-powered aeroplanes to lessen their impact on the environment.
Electric Planes |
Even if flying is handy, it's not great for the environment; according to some estimates, just commercial flights alone are to blame for 3 to 4% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the US.
However, one approach to lessen the sector's climate impact is by electrifying air travel. Battery-powered aircraft are also beginning to acquire more traction, despite the fact that experts believe substantial commercial use is still in the future.
By acquiring 30 battery-powered passenger planes from Heart Aerospace, a Swedish company, this week, Air Canada became the most recent airline to make the commitment to test the cutting-edge, zero-emission technology. In the summer of 2016, 100 of the company's aircraft were ordered by United Airlines and regional carrier Mesa Airlines, respectively.
These still-in-development electric aircraft are currently modest, holding no more than 30 passengers. The plane built by Heart Aerospace, which is propelled by more than 5 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries, can only travel 124 miles on a single charge. However, Pranshu Verma of the Washington Post reports that it may increase its range to nearly 500 miles with the aid of a fuel-powered generator. Even so, the so-called "hybrid mode" would still generate 50% fewer emissions than regular aircraft. The executives of Heart Aerospace claim that this electric aircraft would also be substantially quieter.
The Swedish business claims that its aircraft might be ready as early as 2028, but before they can fly, a number of regulatory obstacles must be overcome.
The environmental effects of airlines and the travel sector as a whole have drawn criticism. They're responding by setting high goals and objectives. By utilising a combination of cleaner fuel and carbon offsets, United, for instance, has promised to reduce emissions by 100% by the year 2050, while nations like Sweden and Denmark have set objectives to eliminate using fossil fuels for domestic flights by the end of this decade. Additionally, cruise lines have committed to address climate change, with organisations like Hurtigruten Norway promising to introduce the first passenger ship with zero emissions by 2030. The German state of Lower Saxony recently introduced its first fleet of passenger trains that are totally powered by hydrogen. Trains are also becoming greener.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
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