CATL has successfully test flown a 4-ton civil electric aircraft and expects to release an 8-ton electric aircraft in 2027-2028.
  • stewie3128@lemmy.ml
    0·
    4 months ago

    I’ll believe it when I see it. Batteries are so heavy right now that 80-90% of the available cargo and passenger capacity would be batteries.

    For the moment, batteries are better for cars, and something like hydrogen would be better for planes and semi trucks

    • theshatterstone54@feddit.uk
      0·
      4 months ago

      The article mentions 2 important things: Compressed Battery technology which allows for greater capacity per kg, and The fact that it is currently testing 4-ton aircraft, with the intent of getting to 8-ton by 2027-28. 4-ton aircraft can hold 6-8 passengers and 8-ton aircraft can hold up to 30 passengers, so this tech is still super early.

      Something to note is they intend for this Compressed Battery technology to be usable in EVs as well which is imo more important but electric planes make for a more interesting headline, I guess.

      Something like hydrogen would be better for planes

      Agreed.