350 HP No pistons!

[Jordan1976]

Originally Posted by FasGlas

You could probably fill the wings with Lithium batteries and still be light, maybe get a good few hours or more of flight time

It takes almost 4,000 lbs of batteries to have the same range as 40 gallons (240 lbs) of fuel. The Tesla battery is 1,200 lbs for the same range as a 12.5 gallon tank in a car at 20 MPG.

[rmartingt]

Originally Posted by Jordan1976

As for a small, turbo engine, why go through the whole electric conversion and back instead of a gearbox? If you have a small engine that is reliable enough for an airplane, then you have something special already.

If you run though the generator then out through a motor, there are some small losses in the conversion, but it allows you to recharge charge the batteries (for the times you need extra power). You also avoid having to do the whole gearbox development process, you don't have to deal with torsional resonance and vibration, the engine doesn't need to absorb propeller loads, packaging the engine and motor installation is easier (you don't need to put the engine right next to the prop or use a long, heavy, tricky-to-get-right driveshaft--heck, you can run more than one prop if you want) and potentially less draggy because you don't have a big blunt engine before or after your prop, with all the flow problems that entails. You also won't need to worry about throttle response; it either runs all-out or idles.

The advantage with the series hybrid concept is that your fuel engine need only be large enough for cruise power, instead of being sized to provide a lot of takeoff power. But that pretty much requires that a lot of effort be put into making a light, slick airframe, and that most likely means molded carbon fiber structure.

Again, think of the possibilities of an airplane with an electric "afterburner" mode that could put out 400+ horsepower for a couple of minutes. If there's anything that would make personal fixed-wing VTOL aircraft possible, it's this.

[FasGlas]

Originally Posted by Jordan1976

It takes almost 4,000 lbs of batteries to have the same range as 40 gallons (240 lbs) of fuel. The Tesla battery is 1,200 lbs for the same range as a 12.5 gallon tank in a car at 20 MPG.

A Tesla will drive from LA to Vegas on one charge. It's about 400hp equivalent. I have a Ford electric truck that has NiMH batteries, 320 volts 100 ah, they weigh less then 800 lbs. Lithium batteries weigh a fraction of that. You could fill a hangar with 2 tons of Lithium batteries. Just pick up a new 12 v Lithium battery they sell for planes, weighs oz's.

[tjo]

A Tesla requires less than 30HP at cruise. An RV requires 100 to 120HP for Cruise. This would mean a range of maybe 60 miles for an RV on a Tesla battery pack.

The trick isn't power production for electric motors. Heck, trains, ships, even submarines are electric. The trick is energy storage, which is batteries. Yes, lithium battery technology provides much better energy density than lead acid, but still nowhere near that of gasoline or diesel.

Tim

[GTWreck]

Originally Posted by bret

Remember the 5 1/4 floppy disc, now we have 512 GB card, who knew back then. Same with battery tec, I can't wait to see what the very near future brings us.

Data storage (and computers in general) have been subject to Moore's Law for the last 50 years (i.e. a rough doubling in storage density or compute power every 18 months). I don't think that battery technology has been anywhere near the same trajectory.

[bret]

here is one Hybrid plane flying now.

http://phys.org/news/2011-06-world-a...tric.html#nRlv

[Snowflake]

And people say automotive engine installations are for people who prefer tinkering to flying. Granted, an automotive installation is a little more complex than a battery and an electric motor, but as a system i'd be surprised if working out the bugs will be any easier on an electric or hybrid installation than on an automotive installation.

[Weasel]

True. I too think we will see more and more electric airplanes. But the road will not be easy.

[bret]

I'm sure someone from one of these 472 post can figure this out........

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ghlight=living

[F1R]

My guess would be carbon nanotube hi pressure hydrogen storage to PEM fuel cells direct to electricity. At least for the airline size ships.