A BATTERY breakthrough could mean electric planes that produce significantly less pollution and noise can be created.
Researchers in Japan have created a world-leading battery that achieves more than double the density of Tesla batteries.
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This means the battery can stay small but provide a lot of power.
It could be a breakthrough for electric planes as the battery would be light enough to let the aircraft fly while still providing enough energy for long distance travel.
The NIMS lithium-air battery has an energy density 500Wh/kg.
Elon Musk’s Tesla vehicles contain lithium-ion batteries but they have an energy density of 260Wh/kg.
The new battery could also be used in smaller appliances.
It’s said to be safe to use in the household because it can be charged and discharged at a normal temperature.
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An NIMS release stated that the battery “shows the highest energy densities and best life cycle performance ever achieved”
It also claimed: “Lithium-air batteries have the potential to be the ultimate rechargeable batteries: they are lightweight and high capacity, with theoretical energy densities several times that of currently available lithium ion batteries.”
The researchers will now conduct new experiments on the battery to see if its life cycle can be increased significantly.
Electric planes do exist right now but they’re small and can’t carry a lot of people over a long distance.
Long haul electric planes could help to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
They could also make air travel a lot quieter.
Without a noisy fuel burning energy, planes would make less noise.
Right now, a lot of airports have to be built in areas with low populations because of the noise pollution issue.
Aircraft noise is currently a major barrier to airport expansions.
Wisk Air takes its self-flying taxi for a test drive
In other news, Nasa has upgraded its asteroid hazard software with some key changes that should help it better detect potentially dangerous space rocks.
Nasa has revealed stunning footage of a solar flare in action.
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