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Paper No. 43-14
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-5:30 PM
GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY: MARKET DEMAND OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
New technological developments have been made to decarbonize the aviation industry. Among these, electric and hybrid aviation vehicles have stood out. Electric aviation is built on the work of Robert Boucher, who pioneered electric motors in model aircraft, as well as solar-powered aircraft with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The largest fully electric concept plane is the Elysian E9X, which can seat up to 90 passengers.
Other electric aircraft include commercial air taxis and unmanned aircraft for weather monitoring and surveillance. Rechargeable batteries - typically lithium-ion batteries - are charged before every flight, which can also be done using solar power and grid electricity. Long-distance electrically propelled aircrafts must be hybrids, which use fossil fuels because existing battery technology is both too heavy and inefficient. Current electric aviation technologies have smaller flight ranges in comparison to fossil-fuel aircraft, thus these aircraft can cater to direct smaller regional market flights.
Electric aviation serves to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions, reliance on fossil fuels, and noise pollution. If powered by renewable energy sources, electric aviation can provide flights that produce zero direct carbon emissions. New infrastructure will also be needed for charging capabilities in airports. Advancements in electric motors, battery storage, and energy density are key to making long-term electric aviation viable.
Electric aircraft can reduce the cost of fuel and fuel transportation to help reach the Port Authority’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. It is imperative not only to manufacture long-term aircraft to reach a break-even point for emissions, as well as make emissions completely net-zero. Electric airplanes are the future of aviation - future innovations in aviation can lower operation cost, unleash smaller regional travel, and reduce carbon emissions well beyond current standards.