cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/72203368
A question you have to consider when evaluating these electric aircraft, what is the cost of “fueling” these in areas with abundant alternative energy sources that sometimes provide demand when it is not optimal or needed in the grid?
I would argue that it goes to zero or perhaps even past zero in a certain sense under conditions of abundant energy supply when demand is low.
Sure you can attempt to store the energy and pay the efficiency loss related to that, but if you can more immediately put that energy into medical flights for patients, organs or other very sensitive medical cargo in a way that is arguably the most efficient use you could possibly get out of that electricity.
Another key element to this question that makes it even more compelling is that excess grid energy supply can be physically moved by electric aircraft to more widely exploit abundant energy supply outside of the immediate locality it is generated in. Used intelligently and in the collective interest of society this could drastically reduce the effective costs and environmental impact of lightweight regional air transport in a transformative way.
The tests focused on building a new regional transportation network for radiopharmaceuticals, which are highly perishable medicines essential for diagnosing and treating diseases like cancer. Because these lifesaving compounds decay within hours, traditional ground transport or scheduled air freight often proves too slow. BETA Technologies partnered with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), regional aerospace coalition 47G, and cargo operator Alpine Air Express to execute the multi-day flight series.