I’m always a close follower when it comes to Technology, and I find battery powered vehicles interesting.
The whole Electric vehicle idea is important, it decreases our usage and need for Fossile Fuels. I know currently that this is counter productive, because we’re using Nuclear and Fossil Fuel power plants to charge the infrastrcture, however Technology has always improved over time.
Look at modern hard drives and computers. A 5MB hard drive was once the size of a few server racks (IBM 1956), now you can fit 1TB of Data on something no big as your fingernail. In the space of 66 years, the size of hard drives has increased expoentially and decreased exponentially all through improving Technology and modern processes.
This is why I’m looking forward at improvements in the Battery markets and vehicles becoming Electrified. Eventually we’re going to see improvements with vehicles and more efficient technologies being developed. Improving overall power available and energy density. I believe in time, we will see these eventually powering commercial Aircraft (Planes and Helicopters)
Currently the technology is inefficient. One of the reasons I find this interesting, and so important is maily from one of the charities I follow. Currently the GNAAS (Great North Air Ambulance Service) is entirely funded by donations. From looking at their companies house reports, once of their largest costs appears to be Aircraft and fuelling (best I can work out is that it costs them around £10 per litre in aviation fuel) based on online searches, and a recent TV episode.
The helicopter being used is AS 365 N2
This version – designated AS365 N2 from the outset – introduced the upgraded 549 kW (736 shp) Arriel 1C2 turboshafts, an uprated gearbox, increased maximum take-off weight of 4,250 kg (9,370 lb), redesigned cabin doors and revised interior, enlarged tail fin with all composite Fenestron. Deliveries of this version started in 1990. Licensed versions were assembled in China as the Z-9, Z-19 and AVIC AC312.
According to technical data it’s Maximum Laden Weight is 4.25 Tonnes, and Fuel Capacity is 1155L. I can’t find anything about the Fuel Consumption online, but most Turbojet Aircraft seem to have a fuel consumption of 20 – 100 Gallons per hour.
I recently watched an Air Ambulance episode, and recall the pilot saying they’d use 200L of fuel (I think it was a 1 hr flight total) iirc, this would equate to around 1 Gallon per minute (or 60 Gallons per hour). Assuming these figures are correct, that would make that one trip somewhere in the region of £2000 just to refill the tank at £10 per litre. Given that the GNAAS financial reports show each flight costs around £4500, that’s probably in the region of £15 per litre.
Taken from their latest companies house report data below. Assuming £10 per litre in fuel and approx 200L used each time (1 hour flight) that comes to £3.464 million per year in fuel alone (guesstimated). I have zero data other than what’s available to me and making some best guesses.
The charity was called out 1732 times, average cost £4478
Anyway, the reason I want to see technology improve is because of this, when Electric batteries become so efficient at rapidly charging, and increase of energy density fuel costs will no longer be an issue. It’s just a case of rapidly charge a battery and go.
This isn’t possibly with current battery technology simply because of the power levels involved. To lift and fly a helicopter currently the engine has to be 838HP. That would equate to 624,896.49 Joules per second of power needed for the battery
Just for info, a Tesla battery (100 Wh – Watt hours) has a TOTAL energy density of 360,000 Joules of energy, so you would need something with the capacity of 200 Wh (2 Tesla batteries per second) continously for flight. In total this would be 12 KWh per minute (or 720KWh per hour).
Some people may argue this is impossible, however I don’t believe it is. New technology is already being researched into batteries to make them more dense. Fusion power is already developed (just not efficient to the point where it’s viable yet), so when we achieve this, we will achieve a new level of power generation where we’re no longer dependant on the Fossil Fuels we currently are. We can develop batteries using Titanium Dioxide. Electrified vehicles become better.
Fusion power also helps develop superconductors. Electric vehicles can benefit from this technology too, a super conductor would allow for efficient and rapid charging, and whilst Li-ion is the current go to technology for Electric vehicles, this technology is also changing and adapting, with new processes, application methods and formulas being developed.
An alternative approach would be for a new Jet Fuel / Engine layout be designed which resulted in greater power / efficiency levels. The technology currently already exists, so it would just be a case of working out how to improve it. Both of these give a better end result. An alternative approach would be a Fusion Reactor engine, but that’s probably beyond current scope. Although it would probably generate the most energy required for a compact space
Anyway, just a quick thought that was in my head. GNAAS are always looking for financial help, so I wanted to write a post to give them some visibility, and also they’re known for trying new tech. Recently working with Gravity industries. I’m sure eventually we will start seeing the Medical Helicopters using batteries for powered flight when it reaches new levels of dentisty and power storage.
WHEN, not IF.
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ADMIN NOTE : Since writing this article I did a quick search, it appears testing is already underway for a Battery powered Helicopter so we’re already at the stage, we just need to improve upon it
