Can new NASA developed batteries make long-haul electric flights possible?

As reported by Euronews:

"New battery technology being developed by NASA could help to revolutionise air travel.

Aviation makes up around 2.4 per cent of global CO2 emissions. For a long time, scientists have been searching for a way to electrify air travel and eliminate these emissions.

But current battery technology only works for some lighter aircraft like drones. It doesn’t supply enough power or range for passenger aircraft meaning they are rare and not widely used"

So what is the reality here and how far off is it? Lithium-ion batteries are great for most electric vehicles (EVs) and other micromobility vehicles like eBikes, eScooters and eSkateboards,  but they fail to meet the strict safety standards for aviation.  Lithium Ion batteries are literally so volatile, that the ATA rules state they must be transported in Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO).  They are shipped under the ATA classification UN 3171 and must also be discharged to less than 30% according to UN packing rule 965.  One of the main reason is that Lithium Ion batteries are flammable. 

While there are probably ways to mitigate the safety risks, NASA has been exploring alternatives. NASA’s Solid-state Architecture Batteries for Enhanced Rechargeability and Safety (SABERS) projectis developing solid-state batteries as an alternative to Lithium Ion. These batteries not only meet the power requirements, they also retain their state if impacted, making them ideal for use as aircraft power sources.

eAviation is still in its' infancy. It was less than 3 years ago when Harbour Air made the world's first commercial aircraft flight using all electric power. WIth NASA as a backer however, it is likely to accelerate the transition to clean aircraft operation.  Note that this is a metric which must be carefully calculated as upstream CO2 emissions need to be factored in to the equation. In other words, it makes no sense to make an electric aircraft if the battery packs take more GHGs to produce than the aircraft emits over its' lifetime.

NASAs' prototype sulphur selenium battery developed by the project produces 500 watt-hours of energy per kilogram of battery. That is double the energy density of a standard lithium-ion battery.

To learn more, come by Fully Charged LIVE at the Vancouver Convention Centre September 8-10, 2023 and find me. I love to talk about this stuff.

The future is so bright, I may have to wear shades!