Technofreak:
RobDickinson:
There is nothing in physics that says we cant have large scale electric aircraft.
I
Right now, Yes there is. The batteries weigh far too much for other than a very few niche operations.
Even at 400 wh/kg a battery weights about 29 times more than the equivalent energy contained in JET A1. Remember presently we are at around 250 wh/kg.
Right now the physics say it doesn't work.
It's not only the physics but also the economics. If you have 6 tonnes of batteries, that's 60 less passengers. Which is a real problem if your aircraft couldn't carry 60 in the first place.
Not to mention that large aircraft can't land with all that weight... if they have an emergency early in a flight, they have to dump fuel to get down to their landing weight.