After the success of electric vehicles such as cars and scooters, electric planes appear to be the next big thing. The concept of electric flying is gradually becoming a reality. Well, electric planes will be quieter, cheaper for airline companies, and better for the environment.
Electrical flying routes by 2030
EasyJet, a leading airline flying company, which exists since 1995, aims to use plug-in hybrid planes between Amsterdam and various London airports within 2030. The British budget airline has teamed up with Wright Electric and Airbus to design the hybrid aeroplane, which can house 150 passengers.
“We will also taxi electrically. That makes a big difference at Schiphol, if we land on the distant Polderbaan”, Dutch director William Vet confirmed to the Telegraaf. It takes around 15 minutes to taxi from the Polderbaan to where passengers can disembark.
Schiphol will be the testing ground
EasyJet plans an electric flying testing ground at Schiphol. The company works with Wright Electric to develop an electric engine. Furthermore, a prototype with space for nine passengers will also be built soon.
Electric aviation is the future!
The D66 and Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen of Infrastructure want to make the Netherlands a front-runner in electric air travel. Currently, fully electric flying is not possible for large passenger planes as the current technology does not support enough battery capacity, claim experts from TU Delft and NLR, the Netherlands’ aerospace centre. They believe that the hybrid and partial electric flying using biofuel or kerosene is the future.
Adding to this, all aircraft builders are working on new designs to venture into semi-electric flying. They are in plans to design planes that can fly up to 20 passengers in the coming years. It is likely to see electric planes carrying more passengers to become a reality for short flights only after 2030. Until then, aircraft builders have to focus on more efficient flying via more direct routes, optimal arrival and departure routes and minimising inconvenience to residents near airports.
Main Image Picture Credits: Wright Electric
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