Now that electric trains and electric cars have made their successful debut in the travel industry, it seems only natural to turn our eyes to the aviation industry next. But while electric aircraft are still only planned on a drawing board, important inroads have already been made with the development of hybrid planes.
Hybrid planes are characterized by engines that combine battery and petrol engines, which is somewhat similar to hybrid cars. Both engines work together during the plane’s take-off and climb into higher altitudes because extra power is needed at this time. Subsequently, however, or in-flight, the electric motor begins to act like a generator and recharges the batteries.
It is always the limitations of battery and battery storage capacities that have prevented electric planes from fully “getting off the ground,” so to speak. While current efforts are now being made to address this issue, there has been a favorable reception to planes with hybrid engines in the meantime. All told, hybrid engines already contribute a lot to the drastic reduction in the carbon emissions generated by the aviation industry, which is believed to account for at least 2 percent of all man-made carbon emissions.
So while electric planes remain as hopes and goals in the future, important first steps are already being taken today by the increasing use of hybrid aircraft engines.
Perhaps nobody can seriously argue against the idea that clean technology is better and that a cleaner flight, when possible, is also better. This is a step-up from initial steps that were already taken by airliners in using alternative biofuels to help reduce carbon emissions. Next step, hybrid planes. Hopefully, the next step after that would be electric planes!