While the travel industry speaks a lot about electric cars and how they are changing the world, but what about other forms of transport, most notably, planes. Talk of electric planes have always been a subject of discussion, but until recently, there has been very little action taken on the subject. However, that’s not to say they’re not around the corner, and electric planes could be here sooner than you think.
Of course, the commercialization of electric planes would revolutionize the travel industry, and so you’re up to date with where we are now and what to expect, here’s the three key things you need to know.
1. They are on their way
In the summer of 2018, an electric plane was responsible for breaking seven world records. While only two seats big, it was able to climb to 20,000 feet in just two minutes and flew at around 142 miles per hour. It also flew consistently for 300 miles on a single battery with a single charge and produced absolutely zero emissions.
While in its early stages, this is proof that electric planes are on the way. This ‘on the way’ statement is in terms of the industry over time, which is to say that 100-passenger commercial electric planes could be here within 20 years. In the meantime, smaller planes from 2-seaters up to 100-seaters will trickle in overtime.
2. The Emission Impact Will Be Huge
Of course, one of the main reasons the travel industry is shifting over to the electric version of vehicles is to cut down on emissions. Currently, around 2% of all global emissions, and 12% of all travel-based CO2 emission sources, come from the aviation industry, which may not seem like a lot, but when we look at the rate in which the climate and environment are changing, 2% can make such a huge difference.
With fewer emissions, this means less air pollution, clear and safer air travel zones, quieter skies (another benefit to using electric vehicles), and overall less concern when it comes to pollution.
3. It Will Be Cheaper
If you think that budget airlines are offering you fantastic travel deals at the moment, wait until you see how much more affordable electric planes will make things. Taking into account the current state of the technology, a small aircraft, like a Cessna Caravan, will cost around $400 for a 100-mile flight. Pretty standard stuff.
However, a plane of a similar size but running on electricity will only cost between $8-$12. This is such a huge saving and will be reflected in commercial ticket prices. This means more opportunities to travel abroad for fewer costs, meaning the travel industry will almost certainly be experiencing another boom.
Summary
As you can see, the next big step in the aviation industry is already being taken, and over the next few years, we can expect to see some big changes in how we fly and what vehicles are accessible to us. Watch this space because once the technology is advanced, all these changes are going to happen very quickly.
