This morning I read yet another article in the aviation trades talking about the failure to find a drop-in replacement for 100LL. And once again, my mind went immediately to the impractical but enticing answer: forget internal combustion - I want an electric airplane.
Electrification would seem to be the magic bullet: very few moving parts, lower operating costs, quieter operation, consistent power at any altitude, no emissions, no carbon monoxide. Electric aviation has the potential to keep GA aircraft flying long after the last drop of 100LL is burned.
Before anyone jumps all of over me for being unrealistic - yes, we’re not there yet: energy density in batteries is still too low for XC ops; lithium ion batteries are prone to thermal runaway events and other dangers; the FAA is running decades behind the state of the art...
All that said, isn’t it still fun to think about? I for one hope to live long enough to enjoy a $25 hamburger while my RV-22 is parked outside, quickly charging.
So on to the thought experiment:
What would be required to eletrificate my RV-6A?
Assume for the sake of this game that the two wing tanks are replaced with power modules which can be replaced with better power modules as technology improves. For the sake of weight and balance, assume that the tanks remain at about 120 pounds / 54 Kg regardless of what’s in there: lithium ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, dilithum crystals, arc reactors, etc.
Is there a DC electric motor / controller system on the market that can produce the same 160 HP as my current IO-320 at (or preferably well below) the same cost?
If not, what would it take to produce a motor / controller system that generates 160 HP at 2700 RPM? Is this “rocket science” level stuff, or something that could be designed and built by a startup (or some dude in a garage)?
Do I need a full 160 HP, or will the lack of parasitic accessories (alternator, magneto, oil pump, fuel pump) allow me to operate with less?
If we rip out the old Lycosaurus and all its friends and replace it with a motor and controller setup that weighs 1/2 as much, how do we fix the W/B? More batteries up front? Extend the nose?
Do we need to provide cooling for the motor? For the motor controller? For the battery packs?
What other issues are there hiding in the weeds?
Electrification would seem to be the magic bullet: very few moving parts, lower operating costs, quieter operation, consistent power at any altitude, no emissions, no carbon monoxide. Electric aviation has the potential to keep GA aircraft flying long after the last drop of 100LL is burned.
Before anyone jumps all of over me for being unrealistic - yes, we’re not there yet: energy density in batteries is still too low for XC ops; lithium ion batteries are prone to thermal runaway events and other dangers; the FAA is running decades behind the state of the art...
All that said, isn’t it still fun to think about? I for one hope to live long enough to enjoy a $25 hamburger while my RV-22 is parked outside, quickly charging.
So on to the thought experiment:
What would be required to eletrificate my RV-6A?
Assume for the sake of this game that the two wing tanks are replaced with power modules which can be replaced with better power modules as technology improves. For the sake of weight and balance, assume that the tanks remain at about 120 pounds / 54 Kg regardless of what’s in there: lithium ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, dilithum crystals, arc reactors, etc.
Is there a DC electric motor / controller system on the market that can produce the same 160 HP as my current IO-320 at (or preferably well below) the same cost?
If not, what would it take to produce a motor / controller system that generates 160 HP at 2700 RPM? Is this “rocket science” level stuff, or something that could be designed and built by a startup (or some dude in a garage)?
Do I need a full 160 HP, or will the lack of parasitic accessories (alternator, magneto, oil pump, fuel pump) allow me to operate with less?
If we rip out the old Lycosaurus and all its friends and replace it with a motor and controller setup that weighs 1/2 as much, how do we fix the W/B? More batteries up front? Extend the nose?
Do we need to provide cooling for the motor? For the motor controller? For the battery packs?
What other issues are there hiding in the weeds?