The car is not the only one getting on the electric car. Aviation also points in that direction, even commercial, although there are still a few years to become a palpable reality, just as it is today to see a BMW i3, a Nissan Leaf or, to a lesser extent, a Tesla on our roads.
Today, Electric aviation is at a key turning point, with significant advances in the development of aircraft capable of short and regional flights. From companies such as Wright Electric to industry giants such as Airbus, everyone is betting on an electric future for commercial aviation.
An American startup, Wright Electric, has set itself a very ambitious goal: to develop an electric aircraft in the next 10 years, with a capacity of 150 passengers, capable of operating flights of less than 300 miles (482 kilometers), a distance slightly less than the one that separates Madrid from Barcelona (504 kilometers).
Wright Electric currently has a partnership agreement with EasyJet and 10 years to go to deliver on its promise. This type of innovation could radically change the market for flights under 500 km, with routes such as Madrid-Barcelona or London-Paris potentially at the forefront of the shift to electric flights.
The technological challenge for electric aircraft
Unfortunately, some voices are not so optimistic. "There are two major problems: first, getting batteries that store energy, with their weight. The second is getting engines with a power similar to that of a current jet," says Alejandro Ibrahim, aeronautical engineer and director of the Teruel airport.
One of the main technological challenges is the energy density of current batteries. While progress has already been made in electric cars such as Tesla's, in the case of airplanes, energy density must increase exponentially to be able to equip them with current combustion engines. Today, commercial electric aircraft batteries have a capacity of about 200 Wh/kg, while experts such as Elon Musk believe that more than 400 Wh/kg would be needed to make medium-distance flights viable.
In addition, international regulations in the aviation sector add an extra layer of complexity. The certification process for a new electric aircraft can take to 10 years, as the new technology must be guaranteed to be completely safe for passengers.
Strategic collaborations for electric aviation
Wright Electric's plan is to build a warehouse aimed at a very specific sector to cover short routes. These types of flights moved close to $ 87.000 billion last year, all of this adding up the 967 planes sold by Boeing and Airbus. The startup has also signed agreements with EasyJet, which is already exploring various ways to reduce its carbon footprint.
In addition to Wright Electric, other major corporations are betting on electric aviation. In 2021, Airbus and Siemens signed an agreement to develop electrically powered aircraft, with the goal of having planes with capacity for 100 passengers flying on short routes by 2030.
Siemens, in particular, has focused much of its research on improving the energy efficiency of aerospace electric motors, looking for ways to optimize energy losses and reduce the overall weight of electrical components.
Current projects that are breaking barriers
El Solar Impulse, a project promoted by the Swiss Bertrand Piccard, has shown that, although there is still a long way to go, electric flight is possible. This plane, which flew around the world powered solely by solar energy, has laid the groundwork for other projects to follow.
Ibrahim is not so optimistic about this limit, due to the time involved in the design and development of an aircraft: “He is very optimistic. From design to certification, it takes 10 years and when you deliver it to EASA and the FAA, you have to define in the plan what you are going to do.” In Ibrahim’s words, the process of designing and certifying an aircraft prevents improvisation on the fly.
The potential of hydrogen and biofuels in aviation
In addition to electricity, Biofuels and hydrogen are emerging as viable alternatives for aviation. Companies such as Repsol and Iberia have begun to operate long-haul flights using biofuels, managing to reduce emissions by 15% per flight.
On the other hand, hydrogen is emerging as one of the fuels of the future. Hydrogen-based engines have the capacity to offer much greater range than electric batteries, making long-distance flights in electric aircraft more feasible. However, the storage and distribution of hydrogen still poses significant technical challenges.
Impact of the elimination of short flights on the development of electric aircraft
Much has been said about the ban on short flights with a train alternative, as is the case of the Madrid-Barcelona route. However, some experts such as Javier Sánchez-Prieto, president of Iberia, warn that eliminating these routes could represent a serious obstacle to the development of electric aircraft.
“Testing and development of electric aircraft is mainly being done on short flights. If we ban these routes, it will negatively affect the progress of electrification in aviation,” says Sánchez-Prieto.
Advances that bring us closer to electric aviation
Despite the challenges, progress is palpable. An example is the Pipistrel Velis Electro, which recently broke the record for the longest electric flight with a range of more than 15 hours. This aircraft, designed for short and training flights, represents a fundamental advance in the development of electric aircraft.
Another relevant project is Heart Aerospace, which is developing an electric aircraft with capacity for 30 passengers and a range of 400 km. Its plans include starting the first commercial flights in 2028.
Finally, the impact of the transition to electric flights will not only be reflected in a lower carbon footprint, but also in a significant reduction in noise pollution and vibrations in areas close to airports, improving the quality of life of residents in these areas.
There is no doubt that the path to electrification in aviation is complex and will take time. However, thanks to advances in battery technology, electric motors and biofuels, we are getting closer to seeing electric aircraft flying in the skies on a daily and commercial basis.