NASA Looks to Electrify Aviation

Airplanes are a significant contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that negatively affect our planet. To cut down on these emissions, NASA revealed that they are developing a new battery that is designed to make air travel cleaner and more efficient.

The need for a new battery comes from the inability of traditional lithium-ion batteries to power huge aircrafts. To put this in perspective, the best lithium-ion batteries can achieve 250 watt-hours per kg, the operation of an airplane would require roughly 800 watt-hours per kg. Lithium-ion batteries also contain flammable materials that can be very dangerous if a malfunction occurs in the sky, impacting safety.

NASA’s battery prototype can provide 500 watt-hours per kg while being able to maintain structural integrity during a malfunction, eliminating the risk of fires. They were also able to make this battery 40% lighter, allowing for increased efficiency and fuel capacity for an aircraft. While this prototype does not meet the requirements of the finished product, it has immense potential that can hopefully be realized soon.

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