时间:2025-05-09 16:57:39 来源:网络整理编辑:百科
One ambitious startup is aiming to put passenger planes powered by electricity in the air within the
One ambitious startup is aiming to put passenger planes powered by electricity in the air within the next decade. Or, perhaps more realistically, in the next 20 years -- depending on battery technology advancements.
Wright Electric, an aircraft manufacturer startup based out of Massachusetts, debuted its idea for a no gas 150-seat plane at Tuesday's Y Combinator Demo Day in Silicon Valley as part of the incubator's bi-annual showcase of new startups.
SEE ALSO:80-year-old woman accidentally tries to carry a sword onto a planeThe barely one-year-old company hopes to corner the market in short-haul flights, like London to Paris or Boston to New York City, and announced a potential partnership with budget airline EasyJet out of the UK.
Wright Electric says 30 percent of flights are under 300 miles, which is a good distance for the battery-operated concept.
Tweet may have been deleted
In a blog post a week before Demo Day, the fledgling company hinted at the EasyJet deal and said that a "high net worth individual wants our electric 150-seater as his fifth private jet. Woo hoo!"
The company went on to spell out what needs to happen to make the idea a reality. The plane's shape and design won't be anything new since, according to Wright Electric, those components have already been mostly perfected.
It's the battery technology that will power the plane that needs to come together in the next decade.
It's the battery technology that will power the plane that needs to come together in the next decade. The company talked about a potential hybrid electric motor if battery advances don't continue on pace like they have for the past century.
Some experts are skeptical about the company's plans. Graham Warwick, an aviation expert from Aviation Weeklytold the BBC, "The battery technology is not there yet."
"It's projected to come but it needs a significant improvement," he added. "Nobody thinks that is going to happen anytime soon. And there's all the [safety] certification - those rules are yet to be created, and that takes time."
However, the company remains optimistic, and has been working with Chip Yates, who clocked the longest electric flight recorded at about 1,000 miles.
Also on display at the demo event was one of the startup's smaller two-seater planes powered by an electric battery.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
So in 10 years (maybe give it 20) we'll see if airlines are charging up their planes to get ready for take-off.
Singapore gets world's first driverless taxis2025-05-09 16:51
Pennsylvania attorney general sues Uber for hiding 2016 data breach2025-05-09 16:24
Why Maybelline deleted a tweet about abandoning Snapchat for Instagram2025-05-09 16:23
How to turn off Facebook's new face recognition features2025-05-09 16:08
Michael Phelps says goodbye to the pool with Olympic gold2025-05-09 16:05
Americans Googled 'gun control' more than 'gun shop' in the past week2025-05-09 15:48
Stormzy fires furious freestyle against UK Prime Minister Theresa May2025-05-09 15:25
Official FCC order overturning net neutrality to be published Thursday2025-05-09 15:17
Felix the cat just raised £5000 for charity because she's the hero we all need2025-05-09 14:50
Manafort's PDF conversion confusion becomes evidence in Mueller probe2025-05-09 14:12
Dramatic photo captures nun texting friends after Italy earthquake2025-05-09 16:43
Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' just scored its first Academy Award2025-05-09 16:11
Will Smith shares inspiring message with 'Black Panther' cast2025-05-09 15:59
Trump claims he would have confronted Florida school shooter2025-05-09 15:59
Give your kitchen sponge a rest on this adorable bed2025-05-09 15:47
How to turn off Facebook's new face recognition features2025-05-09 15:41
Donald Trump thinks he's the first person to come up with movie ratings2025-05-09 15:28
Oscars 2018: The difference between Sound Editing and Sound Mixing explained2025-05-09 15:21
There's a big piece of fake chicken stuck to this phone case2025-05-09 15:12
Americans Googled 'gun control' more than 'gun shop' in the past week2025-05-09 14:28