Booking an electric flight in Europe is only 10 years away, says influential Dutch researcher

Dutch researcher Daniel Jacobson claims that electric flights in Europe could be a reality within just 10 years. Elysian Aircraft, a Dutch start-up, is already developing what could become the world's first battery-powered passenger plane, featuring six engines and folding wingtips to fit into current airport infrastructure. Jacobson highlights that with this new technology, it would be possible to reduce emissions to zero when transporting 90 passengers for 800 kilometers, or even 1,000 kilometers in the future, which would account for a significant portion of global flight activity.

Expert opinion from Maarten Steinbuch, a professor at Eindhoven University of Technology, suggests that while the aviation industry acknowledges its impact on global heating, it falls short of the necessary measures to achieve real reductions in emissions. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set a goal of "carbon neutral growth from 2020," but Climate Action Tracker rates this as "Highly insufficient."

The European Commission should prioritize supporting zero-emission planes, like electric ones, over merely trying to make current planes more sustainable.

The shift towards electric vehicles in Europe has been swift, with electric cars now making up about five percent of the global car stock and displacing 1.2 million barrels of oil daily. This rapid adoption was driven by strict government policies, and Professor Steinbuch believes a similar approach should be taken for aeroplane manufacturers, such as imposing legislation requiring a certain percentage of their fleets to be electrified by specific years.

This would give a boost to startups and help accelerate the certification process for new aeroplane designs.

Batteries are the key to making electric flights a reality, as they determine the range and capacity of these planes. Rapid advancements in battery technology are necessary, particularly solid-state batteries with double the capacity of currently available models. If these batteries come onto the market within the next six years, we may see electric flights with a range of 500 km, carrying as few as five seats for specialised purposes.

Electric flights carrying more passengers could be a reality by 2035, with 80- or 90-seaters potentially flying for up to 500 kilometers by 2040 or later.