• Hildegarde@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    For context jet fuel is around 9,720 Wh/L. However, energy density(energy per volume) is less important in aviation than specific energy(energy per mass) as weight is far more likely to be the limiting factor.

    A standard lithium ion battery has 100-265 Wh/kg

    The article claims 500 Wh/kg in this new battery.

    Jet fuel has around 12,000 Wh/kg.

    Though this is a major improvement in battery tech, batteries are unlikely to ever improve to the point to even approach the energy storage of liquid fuels.

    Batteries cannot run commercial aviation as it currently exists. Battery planes will need to fly slower and shorter. There is no other way.

    • sexual_tomato@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4 months ago

      What’s the efficiency for turning jet fuel into mechanical work? I’d suspect the efficiency is somewhere around 45% for liquid fuel where it’s nearly 100% for electric. So you’re really trying to reach the equivalent of 5500 Wh/kg.

      • Hildegarde@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I got the number from wikipedia. Following the references, the number came from a BP datasheet about Jet A-1, where it is listed on a typical properties table, and the number is the net specific energy, which means it accounts for the inefficiency of the engines. Or at least that’s my assumption.

    • PowerCrazy@lemmy.ml
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      4 months ago

      Energy density has been the number one most important factor since humans started using metal. Wood is good enough to smelt bronze, and with some refinement can get your iron, but not good enough for steel. Steel requires coal, and with some refinement steel is what our world is built on.

      Fossil fuels allow cars, planes and more efficient trains and boats. Unless we somehow start utilizing uranium and transuranics electric airplanes are for grifters. Uranium and it’s derivatives are the only thing we have harnessed that even approaches the energy density of fossil fuels.

      • Hildegarde@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Trains don’t need to store the energy at all. Pantographs are a mature technology. High speed renewable long haul transportation is a technologically solved problem for all overland routes, it just requires infrastructure investment.

        • PowerCrazy@lemmy.ml
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          4 months ago

          Sure high-speed rails with HVDC lines powering them from coast-to-coast I’m here for it.