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2 days agoI disagree with the “the technology is already there” statement. Source: I was part of an aviation electrification research project.
Small regional planes are technologically possible, yes, but transatlantic or transpacific flights? We’re nowhere close to that.
It’s definitely easier to electrify maritime transport.
Long-range aviation might not be electrified at all because it’s so hard to get enough energy from batteries without making the plane unable to lift off due to weight, or enough power from fuel cells without taking too much space. Instead we might see hydrogen turbines or synthetic fuel engines.
Either way, maybe we should ask ourselves if a future society should have flight at all? Of course it’s cool that humans were able to achieve flight but right now it mostly serves an overheated capitalism and the short-lived pleasure-seeking of (globally speaking) a few fortunate people.