Why Aren't Planes Electric Yet?
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- Electric planes are already here. But they don't look like I thought...
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Are electric planes possible? And if so, when are they coming?? Turns out, they’re already here.
For this episode of Huge If True, I went to visit an electric plane company called Beta. Before the shoot, I thought the weight of batteries basically meant electric planes weren’t that useful, and wouldn’t be for a long time. What I learned is that in the last 10 years, we’ve gotten a lot better at making batteries (look at your phone!). Those gains mean electric planes are starting to do more. And that’s a big deal - for carbon emissions and climate change, but also for redesigning how planes look and fly. The future of aviation will look very different than the planes you take today.
I couldn’t fly in one of the electric planes (trust me, I tried!), but I did get up in the air another way…
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Chapters:
00:00 Electric planes are here
00:56 Why are electric planes important?
02:16 Why are there no electric planes?
02:42 Thank you Athletic Greens!
03:36 How do electric planes work?
05:52 What do electric planes look like?
06:42 What is VTOL?
07:48 How do electric planes slow climate change?
09:14 What is the future of airplanes?
Sources and further reading:
- Carbon emissions from aviation, Our World In Data: ourworldindata.org/co2-emissi...
- Carbon emissions by short-haul v long-haul flights, Our World In Data: ourworldindata.org/breakdown-...
- Carbon emissions by short-haul more detail, ICCT: theicct.org/sites/default/fil...
- More on Beta in the New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2022/04/16/bu...
- Airships through the ages, The New Yorker: www.newyorker.com/tech/annals...
- Battery math for volumetric energy density (Wh/L):
2010: Aviation fuel is ~30-34 MJ/L = ~8300-9000 Wh/L = ~100x lithium ion batteries in 2010 which were about 90 (source: Dept of Energy).
2020: Aviation fuel remains ~30-34 MJ/L = ~8300-9000 Wh/L = ~20x lithium ion batteries in 2020 which were about 450 (source: Dept of Energy). www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/...
- Battery math for gravimetric energy density (Wh/kg):
2010: Aviation fuel is 46.2 MJ/kg (roughly) = 12833 Wh/kg = 12833 / 250 = ~50x lithium ion batteries in 2010 which were roughly 250 (source: Beta).
2020: Aviation fuel remains ~46.2 MJ/kg = 12833 Wh/kg = 12833 / 370 = ~34x lithium ion batteries in 2020 which were roughly 250 (source: Beta).
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You can find me on TikTok here for short, fun tech explainers: / cleoabram
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Bio:
Cleo Abram is an Emmy-nominated video producer and journalist. Cleo produces detailed explainer stories about technology and economics. She wrote the Coding and Diamonds episodes of Vox’s Netflix show, Explained, was the host and a senior producer of Vox’s first ever daily show, Answered, as well as a host and producer of Vox’s CZcams Originals show, Glad You Asked. She now makes her own independent show, Huge If True. Each episode takes on one big technology innovation or idea, explains what it is, and helps people imagine the ways it could improve the world we live in by answering one simple question: If this works, what could go right?
Vox: www.vox.com/authors/cleo-abram
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm10108242/
Gear I use:
Camera: Sony A7SIII
Lens: Sony 16-35 mm F2.8 GM
Audio: Sennheiser SK AVX and Zoom H4N Pro
Music: Musicbed
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Welcome to the joke down low:
Will invisible airplanes ever be a thing?
I just can’t see them taking off.
Find a way to use the word “invisible” in a comment to let me know you’re a real one ;)
Cleo, you know that your graphics and editing is superb. But they aren't my favorite part of your videos. You have such a gift in framing these conversations and giving the audience enough context to feel both educated and hopeful. I now CARE about electric plans, something that was invisible to me, after just 10 minutes, which is WILD. Love watching your videos, appreciate all the work it takes to do them.
thank you! I really appreciate you saying that, because it’s exactly what I most hope to do in every video
And the Closing statement 10:25 chef's kiss.
@@CleoAbram short haul flights will be lost by fast trains. like in china. so electric planes for short flights of 200-1500 km are not very useful. because there are electric trains that are better because they don't need batteries. batteries mined from poor countries whose resources are stolen from western countries
@@carkawalakhatulistiwa that is also a question of population density and topography. As an example, Norway made the choice in the 60’s to develop a network of short runway airports, instead of motorways for the northern and western part of the country. Now there’s quite a bit of focus on electric airplanes.
@@CleoAbram where is build a nuclear fusion reactor part 2 ?
I work in this industry and know I want to work on these types of aircraft. Thanks for bringing this to the public stage in an awesome optimistic way. We need more coverage like this to show the public how close the world is to a better vision. Love your show!
thank you Venkat! it's so cool you feel that way. sometimes I imagine Huge If True as a menu of options for hopeful people to get involved with - very excited you're interested in these planes.
@@CleoAbram short haul flights will be lost by fast trains. like in china. so electric planes for short flights of 200-1500 km are not very useful. because there are electric trains that are better because they don't need batteries. batteries mined from poor countries whose resources are stolen from western countries
@@CleoAbramI've been a fan but am convinced now that you've fallen for ghe long-termist effective altruism perspective , trivializing the threat of climate-change with these hopium presentations. Innovation and consumption won't save us. Electric airplanes aren't changing much of anything. Stop trivializing the threat, please!
@@snizami Stop spreading hate, please!
too bad she doesn't realize that global warming from human CO2 is a hoax, and that electric vehicles are all charged using regular coal or oil. AND the amount of diesel fuel burned to mine the lithium for the batteries that only last 10 years far exceeds anything a gas engine would burn, and that's if CO2 actually mattered in "climate change"
I love your positive perspective. At times we lose that balance with what we're seeing on the news. You're doing a great job
yeah, the news likes to focus on the negative, because it sells better, but what we actually want is to focus on solutions if we want to have a better future.
Electric planes have no foreseeable path to decarbonizing commercial flight in a meaningful way. The video is forced to admit it at multiple instances. Falling for wishful and beyond optimistic presentations is not the answer to the depressing reality of climate change. It just fuels further apathy.
@@snizamithank you for commenting. I was already suspicious at one minute in and then looked up the percentage of el.vehicles and "we" already wreak havoc on the planet with lithium extraction so...driving and travelling less should be way more effective in terms of sustainability than any "turn the buck faster" scheme.
I struggle with a few mental illnesses. I'm currently in a depressive episode. I just wanted to say how much watching these videos help make me feel hopeful. Thank you for that.
How are you doing bro?
My grandmother was about 10 years old when the Wright bros flew for the first time. She was 70-something when men landed on the moon. No reason we didn't have a similar progress trajectory in the 60 years after that, but we arguably didn't - perhaps there has been almost as much improvement 🤷♂ but almost for sure we are back on track now.
Your explanations Cleo are both concise and clear and you address the issues without being patronising. Or umming and aahhing, which is *_such_* a big thing in my book. Well done and thank you 😁
This video is fun and entertaining! Wish Cleo had more content
working on it! much more in the works :)
Look at harbour air tours in electric float planes! :)
Thanks fake poster; she will, she's connected to the global climate scam so they'll be making more videos that she can pretend to make with that stupid smile of hers.
So, as a paramedic, I have to point out the obvious use of these eVTOLs as air ambulances. VTOL is an amazing benefit, plus they'll be quieter, and they won't stink. We could start using these now. That's pretty exciting to me. They'll help us help more people.
Yeah the noise of rescue helicopters are really annoying
unfortunately with the best lithium-ion batteries around you'll on get typically between 10 and 15 minutes flight endurance. Any VTOL is horrifyingly energy hungry. This compares with between 30 and 60 minutes for a conventional plane powered by batteries. The power/energy to weight ratio of lithium-ion simply isn't up to the task. I expect plenty of e-VTOL companies to fold in the next year or two as this insuperable obstacle finally dawns on them.
@@Tom_McMurtry The noise is largely caused by the rotor blades, NOT the engine !
On a related note, I believe one of the other uses they are looking at is point-to-point organ transplant between hospitals.
And a few other things:
I work very close to the Burlington airport and I've seen this thing buzzing around a few times. It really is very quiet. Part of the trick is that once it's airborne the vertical rotors shut down and it flies like a normal plane with a single prop at the back.
Another thing they're doing that wasn't covered here is making the battery packs hot-swappable. So, they will have a base of operations at the airport, come in for a landing and be able to just swap out the depleted batteries for fully charged ones and then work on recharging the old ones. This allows for fast turn-around times, but from what I understand charging a Lithium-Ion battery is also better for the life of the battery.
@@grahamstevenson1740 They report 250 miles / 400 km range and 55+ minutes flight time...
How she only has 250k subs is a mystery to me. Consistently some of the best content out there. Keep up the great work!
just the sad reality of this word.
The reason is that her channel is new.
@@Omar-jn9zf yeah she started uploading only few months ago
anti-medicine outrage gets all the attention and is very profitable these days. Try not to go have a drink after you read that.
@@slofty yeah there's a channel made by some fear monger two bit doctor named John Campbell who literally spun off a positive news of reduction in lethality in mice from 100% to 80% by portraying it as "the gall of an evil group of scientists doing evil gain of function research and creating a new virus"
And as always laymen couldn't tell the difference though i don't blame them because the worst kinds of lies are those wrapped around selective partial truths
I hate deceitful grifters and trp peddlers
Just found your channel. I love it!
The thing I appreciate the most isn't the information (which is interesting and informative), but your attitude. Your optimism is so nice to see. So many people are the opposite, and it can make a person feel dismayed about our future.
So thank you. Keep that attitude and keep up the awesome work! :)
Cleo, I just want to say that I'm amazed at how far you have come too. I've been following your work for about a year before you left Vox, and the content you've been putting out just keeps getting better. I'm learning new things each time. It also gives me hope that the seemingly intractable problems we face today are being chipped away every day by wonderful people and companies like Beta.
IDK how to express how much joy your channel brings me. thank you. you've quite literally gotten me out of some really dark places.
Your show is filled with so much joy. I love when you are in the middle of filming and you just stop to smile at the camera. You are so ecstatic at sharing this content.
You managed to communicate complex topics like energy density and transport transformation effortlessly, clearly, simply, and you made it fun to boot. This video is a masterclass in communication and also a must-watch for those seeking to understand the revolution currently underway in electric aviation. Thank you for all the work that went into this video - it's outstanding on so many levels.
Thanks Cleo, absolutely love your content! Kudos to you for taking so much effort in making such amazing videos, you rock :)
This was such a great video to watch, I can't think of anything to make it better, but then... I feel the same way every time I watch your videos, and you always find the way to top the previous one. Please keep it up, it is refreshing to see such great content!
Great video. You really got a talent for carrying the conversation and engaging the audience. My only complaint is, at the end of the video I was left with a feeling of incompleteness, I was hoping for more info on what the company was planning to do, roadmaps, and some more technical info.
I live in Vermont and the fact that you actually went to Beta makes me *so happy.* They've been blowing up the local news lately; I love that they're getting wider attention.
Always love your videos, the information and the positivities you brought in to it.
High speed rail is also taking out a lot of shorter haul aviation. Look at Europe. For example, as part of its COVID bailout , the French Government ordered Air France to stop competing with SNCF's TGVs and instead just sell seats on those TGVs for domestic travel instead of offering as many domestic flights.
I've just recently found your channel and am enjoying to binge all the videos.
Also i love the finishing note of this one. It really carried such a hopeful vibe, i smiled at your words ✨
I work in and love this industry! Currently at Pyka Aero we’re making and operating autonomous electric crop dusting aircraft which I believe is a perfect stepping stone towards the holy grail of short haul commuter aviation! Thank you for your amazing work!
Your videos are always so informative and of such high production. This was one of my fav episodes
As a person with severe ADHD, your videos are perfect for me to go into full hyperfocus mode and get lost in an increadibly complicated, yet amazing concept. Oh, also to do nothing that I actually need to do:) I know, it doesn't sound a good thing; but, this is the greatest compliment I can possible give to a creator:)
Cleo your storytelling process is so fun and so engaging. I love your channel!
only channel where i don't even skip in video ads
Planes like the old one you flew in are actually fabric covered metal frames, and I used to do restorations on the fabric. I also worked on engines on similar planes, as well as more modern ones (mostly a lot of oil changes, and disassembling engines for overhaul).
I was lucky enough to see this plane in person in Springfield Ohio! It was insane seeing it up close
Each episode is like a movie! keep it up ❤️. Absolutely love your work
Hi Cleo - I love your videos, most of which cover topics with which I only have a cursory familiarity. This one was extra special for me because I am an aviation business owner and a professional pilot, and I know the folks at Beta quite well. You really framed the problem set and potential solutions perfectly. There are a number of companies out there pursuing these kinds of technologies. Many of them are really vapor ware, some get more press than Beta. But I think their approach is right on target and bet they will be among the first to succeed in certifying and bringing an EVTOL to market.
This, like all of your content, is fascinating, important stuff. Thanks for doing it and keep up the good work!
I enjoy watching Cleo radiating a smile while talking so enthusiastically
600 miles is still a long way to fly in an electic plane. On top of that they become more inefficiënt the longer you go and at some point synthetic or bio-based kerosine will be cheaper than the energy spend on charging and the time lost on the ground waiting to charge. Also for even shorter distances you probably should just take a car or a train. I think batteries have to improve quite a lot for electric planes to become feasible.
Oh man your energy and vibes are the best.
Great storytelling
I really love your videos and the way you can explain difficult topics to us. Hope one day we can travel in those amazing machines. Good job!
We tried electric airplanes at our airport, they have a flight school that uses mostly electric airplanes. The key is to figure out how to fly them despite their limitations. A flight school is exactly that! 45 minutes flight time is perfect for a lesson. When they can fly twice that, then we might find another use for those.
How is 45 minute flight time perfect for flight school? You need to do cross country flights and night flights which electric planes cannot accomplish .
@@poochie5543 they have a new pa28 for those flights, so it’s not 100% electric yet
Why should this be done at all? The planes are INSANELY expensive and the batteries need to be replaced often, which probably negates any environmental benefit that they provide.
@@PistonAvatarGuy when the aviation fuel costs 3 euros per liter and the plane requires 35 liters per hour it is a quite simple equation why electric is cheaper, even if you have to change battery
@@fredrikjohansson Not when the plane is tens/hundreds of thousands of Euros more expensive to buy, AND requires tens/hundreds of thousands of Euros worth of battery replacements every ~400 hours.
I just love the way you present numbers and why the inventions make sense, unlike other channels who don't know the tech and the efficiency.
Another amazing video, keep it up! Love how you point data and information that stays mostly "invisible" ;) to other people.
It’s such a delight whenever you upload new videos and shorts. You’re the best journalist on CZcams. I find myself caring about every new topics you introduce. Thank you for sharing this gift with the world! ❤
I love all the videos that you do. They are so full of educational content and always something new to learn from.
We already have a flying car. It's called a helicopter. And as an Aerospace engineer, I'm not sure how you could mitigate all that noise. Electric commuter planes, sure, why not? But VTOL that imitates a drone is just that, a noisy quadcopter. Part two of the fusion reactor, please.
That's my question too, how are these different from helicopters? I'm guessing the flight phase is more efficient than a conventional helicopter, so less expensive per flight, probably faster too. Smaller than a helicopter, they need smaller pads to take off and land and they are less noisy than a helicopter too I imagine.
@@ingerasulffs Helicopters use a very mechanical complicated rotor system where these electric multi engine drone's use just the enginge to balance and control the aircraft. Easier in maintenance, less vulnerable.
So much info given in under 11 minutes! Love your videos
Love it. I think we'll be seeing major battery changes in the next few years, there's a lot of different patents and companies bidding to bring new battery tech to the market relatively soon, and some of the new batteries are looking at a 30% improvement (potentially) in gravimetric energy density (so rather than be 34 times heavier for the equivalent power storage, they'll be more like 24 times heavier - which will potentially allow more range).
Your writing is amazing. You make our ears eat up every word and keep us interested all the way through with your positive energy. Looking forward to your future projects.
Optimism is my favorite type of content ♥
Only the best videos here! More power to you Cleo!
Been waiting so long for this. Let's go!
Hey Cleo! I'm a senior aeronautical engineer and have a content idea for you. I would LOVE to see you shine some light on the Otto Aviation Celera (no I don't work for them, I work for Sikorsky). There is a LOT under the surface with this thing, because not only is it incredibly efficient (more on that later) and drastically cheaper to operate, but the size combination with the speed means you could potentially use your local small airports to be able to fly in/out of, so quicker/smaller security. And because of THAT it would be less layovers! Now about that efficiency: all of this is basically enabled by a really beautiful part if aerodynamics known as laminar flow. Lots more to explain there but if we could actually pull of laminar flow production aircraft as they propose it would MASSIVELY impact the way you and I get around. Cheers, let me know if you want to talk about it!
Great video! The one bit I’d like to add is that battery density and weight is only part of the equation. The efficiency of electric motors is a huge part of why EVs can travel as far as they do even if batteries don’t contain the same energy density as gasoline.
In cars, gasoline engines are only about 36% efficient while electric motors are about 98% efficient. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same sort of ratio were true in airplanes!
Good observation! We have to keep in mind that her video's are targeting the mainstream audience without any knowledge of aviation and electrics so it's not going too deep.
Just awesome! We can never have enough videos like this.
This was wonderfully done! Keep up the awesome work!
Amazing video as always. Leaving here more educated and more hopeful. Thank you for making, Cleo
You always make amazing, entertaining and informative videos...💯
Keep up the great work, you're awesome 😍
This is amazing! These are the kind of videos that make me actually excited about the future and imagine a ton of possibilities!
I'm currently studying transportation engineering in school and am really excited to see this kind of stuff. Thank you for sharing this Cleo :D keep up the great work!
Those VTOL planes look awesome! They also look like they're very easy to learn to fly! I took 2 years of flying lessons in a 1969 Piper Cherokee and I just barely got it down at the end. Based on what I've seen in this video, I'm pretty sure I could learn to fly this VTOL in just a month or so. Perhaps VTOL aircraft will become the flying cars we've all been dreaming about since the Jetsons!
Your content is super interesting and well explained, keep up the good work :)
Pd: when will you upload the second part of the fusion reactor?
That felt like a 2 min video, i was hooked! Looking forward to the next one
Amazing channel you got here Cleo! Watched one short and now i am binge watching all episodes! 😍
Thanks! I needed this, and waited for it.
Lol, I love looking at the world through the eyes of Cleo's child like wonder and enthusiasm. 🤠❤
Great video Cleo, i'm working for Lilium and i'm so proud to be part of the beginning of a new era of the aerospace
Usually I don’t listen to someone talking about aviation explain aviation but, she seems to grasp a lot of problems that most people don’t understand, good video
Your video quality is amazing from editing, graphics to the content itself. Keep up the good work. 🙌
I want to believe, but gotta be honest, I'm getting more *if true on this one than Huge
Your videos are seriously brilliant and you such a positive person. Keep it up. You will grow a lot!
Your enthusiasm for this really does help me accept this as a legitimate alternative, great video my friend😄👏
Cleo I love your enthusiasm. You want to make a difference and it shows. Keep up the good work!
Your videos are the best ! Time just flies while watching them
you videos feels like a mix of Tom Scott and Johnny, i love them, i'm glad i'm here since the 1st one 😁 keep up the great work Cleo!
Amazing! AMAZING! I'm in love with your contents, Cleo!
I love how much or an optimist you are. I get into a lot of doom and gloom thinking about the future but you show the possible future innovations that could help turn things around. Really scared for the future but it's good knowing that companies are innovating and not all of them are digging their heels in to keep things the way they are.
Such a breath of fresh air cleo hope you know. Love you
Your videos are so great, your way of talking about things, transitionning to another subject so smoothly. Amazing job, loved it!! 100% Watchtime.
Again, an Interesting Video. Thank you for your work!
The Amount of Effort Cleo puts into her videos is amazing . The energy ,positivity ,curiosity and her smile make these videos complete show-stopper
I've loved this from her in the past but this is now just helping sell a deceptive 'innovate-and-consume' vision for (not) tackling climate change. It's deeply disappointing.
Really cool video Cleo and team. It’s pretty wild to think about the way tech has changed over the years, and how we really do have no idea what amazing creations will come up in our lifetime!! Hopefully we get to see some amazing developments by the time we reach our 90’s!
Love this series, thank you!
This is cool
Loving this "HUGE*" series. Keep up the awesome work (^^)
Love the optimism and plethora of information! We are living in the golden age of innovation, can’t wait to see these utilized more!
Cleo I'm so glad I found your channel ❤ it's so entertaining and educational
I love the idea of battery-powered aircraft for short-distance flights, but I really don't love the idea of battery-operated drones/planes for deliveries within cities. The "catastrophic failure" potential is so much higher since the planes may be flying over homes or buildings and could just fall out of the sky. I understand that turbine-powered planes in their current iteration are the safest per mile transport, but that isn't necessarily true for battery operated versions. Also, the noise. Drones are super loud because they have to displace so much air. If we had even bigger ones flying around cities, it would be so obnoxious.
The only reason that airplanes are having a high score on safety is the training of the people that operate those. Imagine now a world were just as much people are flying easy to operate planes as we have people driving a car these days: What now is just an anyoing fender bender will then be a fatal crash at altitude.
Was dying for a video!! Thank you!
you're storytelling is amazing! This was such a cool video and I really want an electric plane now lol
That was really well researched! Thanks being upbeat without sensationalizing the technology - I really appreciated that!
Yay!!! Perfect start to my day! 🎉🎉
Love your videos I just want more content. Longer videos. You are the best
You make me love my future. I'm so excited to ride that too. Thanks Cleo. See you to your next vlog.
Great job Cleo 😊 loved your ending statement-made me tear up a bit
This makes me so excited! Thank you for this video!
awesooome video!! I luv it
That Beta aircraft is so cool! Looks like a giant drone, but with a cockpit, lol. Love how it looks (mostly) like a plane, but has helicopter-like controls (at least the one in the simulator did).
As always, and after all these years: Amazing video, Cleo.! I know you want to, so dont be afraid to drop a 21 mins video from time to time.! Love the 10+1 minute videos but you are followed by people who are not only here to burn 10 minutes and forget about what they saw in a couple of days... We are invested and 21 mins and follow-ups 6 months later and we all still be here.
Amazing and interesting video as always 🔥 Got so much more intrigued on the future of electric airplanes.
Clearly, Cleo, you are a genius. As I was watching this, specifically the part about building the battery pack, I immediately thought of spent nuclear rods at nuclear reactors. No doubt you know all too well that our best minds decided the best way to store those things is to truck them in some cases thousands of miles to a mountain!? So here's my question--are we going to have to find another mountain to store spent batteries that are used in aviation? I sure hope not
You're not completely wrong. Car batteries that are at 70% of their capacity are considered unusable and for planes I recon the limits are going to be even stricter.
However, these batteries can still have a function in stationairy storage as peak backup or off-grid solutions where the increased weigh and volume ratio is not an issue.
I'm always excited when i see your video
stuff like this motivates me to do aerospace engineering.
this was interesting, technically delightful and most of all very wholesome. Cheers, Cleo!
This channel just keeps better.
Production quality is off the charts🔥
The most important thing that draws me to your videos is your optimism. I love the way you ended the video - even with all this chaos and negativity (looking at you Johnny!), maybe there is still hope 🙃