The Hybrid-Electric Plane That Will Switch From Passenger To Cargo In 15 Minutes
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Simple Flying.
If you are sceptical about the concept of zero-carbon flying, then read this article, which takes the form of an interview with the Managing Director of Faradair.
DHL Express Shapes Future For Sustainable Aviation With First Order Of All-Electric Cargo Planes From Eviation
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from DHL Express.
They have ordered twelve cargo versions of the Eviation Alice.
- Planes will be flown by a single pilot.
- Each plane will be able to carry 1,200 Kg of cargo.
- Maximum range is up to 815 km.
- Each flight hour will require thirty minutes of charging.
When you consider Stansted and Charles de Gaulle Airports are 260 kilometres apart, these planes would be able to handle a lot of routes.
Plan Ahead – Bank London Underground Station Upgrades To Disrupt Underground Services
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Advent.
This is the best summary I have seen about what will happen between the 15th January and mid-May next year, when the Northern Line is closed between Moorgate and Kennington stations to work on the upgrade to Bank station.
As I rarely use the Northern Line between Moorgate and Kennington stations, I probably won’t suffer much inconvenience.
But i do have two convenient bus routes between my house and London Bridge station and there is always the Overground and a change to the Jubilee Line at Canada Water station.
Talgo and Repsol To Develop Fuel Cell Trains Powered By Renewable Hydrogen
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This article follows the pattern, of if you’re going to build hydrogen-powered trains, you need a quality partner for your hydrogen.
I still puzzle, what Talgo will do with their factory in Scotland, if they miss out on the orders for High Speed Two.
- Russia is an obvious market for their Spanish gauge high speed trains and delivery from Rosyth by ship is probably easier, than from Spain.
- The UK probably needs a quality modern hydrogen train for remote routes, as does the island of Ireland.
- As I indicated in LNER Seeks 10 More Bi-Modes, there could be a niche for a small fleet of 140 mph hydrogen bi-modes to run between London and the North of Scotland.
Note.
The UK probably has enough capacity for regional and commuter electric and battery trains, with Alstom, CAF and Hitachi all with modern trains in production.
Ireland and Russia, with their similar gauge to Spain could be worthwhile markets.
However, I do believe that the 140 mph hydrogen bi-modes would slot into substantial markets in continents and countries like Africa, Australia, Canada, India, Norway, South America, Sweden and the United States, where there are enormous mileages of standard gauge railways without electrification.
Form Energy’s New Low-Cost, Iron-Air Battery Runs For 100 Hours
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Singularity Hub.
This paragraph sums up the genesis of the battery.
A secretive startup backed by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures thinks it may have the answer, though. Form Energy, which was co-founded by the creator of Tesla’s Powerwall battery, Mateo Jaramillo, and MIT battery guru Yet-Ming Chiang, has unveiled a new battery design that essentially relies on a process of “reversible rusting” to provide multi-day energy storage at ultra-low costs.
And this paragraph describes the operation of the battery.
The company’s batteries are each about the size of a washing machine, and are filled with iron pellets and a water-based electrolyte similar to that used in AA batteries. To discharge, the battery breathes in oxygen from the air, converting the pellets to iron oxide, or rust, and producing electricity in the process. To charge, the application of a current converts the rust back into iron and expels the oxygen.
It’s all very fascinating and leads to a battery made from very affordable materials.
The article quotes between $50 to $80 per kilowatt-hour for lithium-ion batteries and around $20 per kilowatt-hour for Form Energy’s battery.
Conclusion
The article is definitely a must-read.
I feel that Form Energy should be added to my list of viable batteries.
The Anonymous Widower 