In aviation, this gets us a Cessna 172 in a two seat configuration that has about a 2 hour endurance and insane takeoff performance.
Translated to a slippery aerodynamically optimized composite 2 seat plane, that could be around 3 hours / 330nm of endurance.
Reasonable electric light aviation is gradually coming within reach.
jakedata · 3h ago
"delivering a whopping 550 kW of power from a package weighing a mere 13.1 kg (28.9 lbs.). That power density ratio equals 42 kW/kg or 19 kW/lb."
Something that compact and energy dense will require a powerful cooling system in a very small amount of surface area.
K0balt · 3h ago
If we assume that the motor is operating at 98 percent efficiency (improbable but not impossible at that power level) then that’s 11KW of heat to carry away. That is similar to an ICE engine of 18KW, which is light but not extreme at 13kg. Even at 94 percent I’d say it is going to be in the ballpark of cooling requirement to ICE, which we are now pretty good at keeping under control.
That’s pretty remarkable.
aitchnyu · 7h ago
Been wondering if dino juice-burning motorsports have been improving cars/road transportation much. AMG (YASA owner) and Koenigsegg are revolutionary in reducing demand for rare earths and enabling electric planes.
In aviation, this gets us a Cessna 172 in a two seat configuration that has about a 2 hour endurance and insane takeoff performance.
Translated to a slippery aerodynamically optimized composite 2 seat plane, that could be around 3 hours / 330nm of endurance.
Reasonable electric light aviation is gradually coming within reach.
Something that compact and energy dense will require a powerful cooling system in a very small amount of surface area.
That’s pretty remarkable.