It is easy to think that electric aviation is an unrealistic dream, but fact is that research and testing in this area is taking large strides forward in a quick pace.\u00a0There are already electric planes for two people\u00a0on the market,\u00a0and within five years, developers see that there will be planes for up to 19 passengers. These electric planes will be able to fly at least 400 km\u00a0before their batteries need charging.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the companies developing planes of this type is\u00a0the\u00a0Swedish Heart Aerospace,\u00a0that has signed a prior agreement with Finnair on 20 planes. With United Airlines,\u00a0the\u00a0company\u00a0has\u00a0made a prior agreement on considerably more planes than that, and the planes\u00a0are\u00a0expected\u00a0to be in operation already in 2026.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If electric aviation within five years still sounds unrealistic\u00a0to you,\u00a0you\u00a0might draw a parallel to electric cars. How many of us thought five years ago that electric cars would be as\u00a0ubiquitous\u00a0as they are today?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”90%” max_width=”1280px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Myth 2: Electric aviation is hazardous<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n For many people just the thought of setting foot on an electric plane seems hazardous \u2013 how can\u00a0you trust the new technology to keep you up in the air? It might comfort you to know, that first-generation electric passenger planes have the same fuselage as\u00a0planes\u00a0that\u00a0have\u00a0flown decades on\u00a0fossils.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As testing a new airplane is a rigorous process, some of the companies that develop electric planes have\u00a0come to the conclusion\u00a0that it is better to use\u00a0well-tried fuselages and only change the engines\u00a0on the planes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking of engines, it is important to understand that electric engines go through as\u00a0rigid safety tests as any type of airplane engine. Electric engines also have\u00a0much\u00a0fewer moving parts than combustion engines\u00a0and are therefore easier and safer to maintain.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.kvarken.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/KvarkenRadet-electriaviation-myth2.mp4″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”90%” max_width=”1280px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.kvarken.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/KvarkenRadet-electriaviation-myth3.mp4″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.1″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Myth 3: Electric aviation is n<\/span>ot sustainable<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n It is true that electric\u00a0airplanes\u00a0need a lot of energy, but\u00a0the\u00a0sustainability of\u00a0the transport depends entirely on how the electricity is produced. Fact is,\u00a0that\u00a0with its high share of renewable energy,\u00a0the Nordic countries have the most sustainable energy mix in the world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Using electric power is also very energy efficient and the need for aviation infrastructure is small compared to other means of transport \u2013 just think of what it takes to build\u00a0a\u00a0new railway.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another typical environmental objection\u00a0to electric planes\u00a0regards the batteries and the raw materials needed for them. It is important to remember, that batteries continuously develop in a more sustainable direction. In the\u00a0Kvarken\u00a0region,\u00a0a new cluster is forming for sustainable battery production \u2013 the Nordic battery belt. Companies within this cluster work to\u00a0reduce emissions in the whole value chain, from\u00a0mineral extraction\u00a0to production and recycling.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”90%” max_width=”1280px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Myth 4: Electric aviation is o<\/span>nly for rich businesspeople<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Someone might wonder why society should invest in electric planes, if\u00a0mostly\u00a0only rich businesspeople will have the means to fly them?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the contrary to what\u00a0you\u00a0might think, electric aviation can, in fact, become more affordable than conventional flying.\u00a0Its affordability will partly\u00a0depend\u00a0on airport\u00a0tariffs, but\u00a0the\u00a0truth is,\u00a0that electric engines are also more efficient and have fewer moving parts than combustion engines. This is turn results in lower operational costs and maintenance costs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Electric aviation might also play an important societal role in the\u00a0Kvarken\u00a0region\u00a0due to the region\u2019s\u00a0long geographical distances. Electric aviation might result in shorter patient transports\u00a0och\u00a0more\u00a0accessible cargo transports to\u00a0rural areas, which are\u00a0both\u00a0benefits for all residents in the region, not just\u00a0for\u00a0businesspeople.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.1″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.kvarken.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/KvarkenRadet-electriaviation-myth4.mp4″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”90%” max_width=”1280px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.kvarken.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/KvarkenRadet-electriaviation-myth5.mp4″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.1″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Myth 5: There is no point i<\/span>n\u00a0<\/span>electic<\/span>\u00a0aviation,\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0range is too short<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n It is true that electric planes will at first be flown mostly on shorter routes, as today\u2019s batteries have a\u00a0range\u00a0of about\u00a0400 km. But 400 km\u00a0is still quite far, and electric aviation therefore has the potential to improve accessibility in the\u00a0Kvarken\u00a0region. New routes that connect places over\u00a0Kvarken\u00a0or over\u00a0the\u00a0mountains might arise\u00a0where\u00a0other\u00a0transport alternatives are missing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The development of batteries is also quickly going forward, which means that the range will\u00a0increase\u00a0and prices decrease over time. In other words, we will fly longer and longer distances with electric planes in the future. For\u00a0really long-distance\u00a0flights other\u00a0power\u00a0alternatives\u00a0are\u00a0developed, such as biofuels and hydrogen gas.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”217.7px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.11.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-31px|||||” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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