Why there won’t be any electric passenger planes, according to Bill Gates.
Bill Gates has been known in recent years for his struggle, including part of his fortune, to try to solve some of the world’s major problems. That’s why Gates is betting on “electrification” as one of the measures against climate change.
See also: The race to make planes capable of flying at hypersonic speed.
In one of the last blog entries he published the following:
“Earlier this month, I wrote about how COVID-19 is a warning about climate change. There is no doubt that we have experienced terrible suffering and economic hardship over the past few months. But as difficult as it is to imagine at this time, when we are still in the midst of the pandemic, climate change has the potential to be even more devastating.
In addition, in the last entry Gates emphasizes the need to electrify transportation to address climate change. However, he also made some controversial comments about the segments that went electric:
“In addition, increased competition in the marketplace means there are more options available to customers than ever before, from compact sedans to sleek sports cars. You’ll even be able to buy an all-electric pickup soon, thanks to legacy companies like GM and Ford and new car makers like Rivian and Bollinger.
See also: Celera, the bullet-shaped plane that could revolutionize the industry.
Curious that he does not name Tesla and his Cybertruck, although his text became more controversial when he stated that trucks (like the Tesla Semi) or electric planes “will probably never” happen. Here is his reasoning:
“The problem is that the batteries are big and heavy. The more weight you try to move, the more batteries you need to power the vehicle. But the more batteries you use, the more weight you add and the more power you need. Even with the great advances in battery technology, electric vehicles will probably never be a practical solution for things like 18-wheelers, cargo ships and passenger planes. Electricity works when you need to cover short distances, but we need a different solution for long haul heavy vehicles.
A curious assessment if we consider that Tesla’s Semi or Freightliner eCascadia are designs that are very advanced. Instead, Gates suggests biofuels as a potential alternative to batteries for those transportation segments.
By Miguel Jorge – Gizmodo
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