Nitrogen engine.

[Bernie]

13 hours ago, kgwilson said:

At the current rate of battery development I can't see much future for internal combustion engines at all. CATL have just unveiled a new EV battery that has a range of 1500km on a single charge and can be recharged to provide 520km of range in just 5 minutes.

https://carnewschina.com/2025/04/21/battery-giant-catl-showcases-three-innovations-1500km-range-battery-520km-in-5-minutes-ultra-fast-charging-and-2025-mass-production-sodium-ion-battery/

I have a mate who is installing sodium batteries in his motorhome as we speak.

Bernie.

[Freizeitpilot]

Now, back to aviation for a moment……..,

Will hydrogen have a role to play ? Even with quick charge, and higher charge density batteries, a direct IC hydrogen engine may still have the edge for small GA aircraft at present, if they can get them to work.

[facthunter]

Why stick with Piston engines IF you don't have to?  Nev

[Freizeitpilot]

18 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Why stick with Piston engines IF you don't have to?  Nev

I agree - but what would you suggest is the next best non fossil fuel alternative at present ?

[facthunter]

Pistons are the Most efficient of the ICE ones .Hydrogen to electric direct? Hydrogen is difficult to store.  Makes things brittle  Nev

[kgwilson]

11 hours ago, onetrack said:

It is the design that will eventually rule. Why buy a fixed size and style battery that is a major construction part of your vehicle, when you could have the choice of sizes and styles of batteries, according to your requirements or needs? With a swappable battery, there will be no more having to scrap your EV, simply because the battery is at the end of its life.

 

Buying an EV with a fixed inbuilt battery is like buying a BBQ with a fixed inbuilt gas bottle, and the BBQ becomes worthless when the bottle become out of date.

 

The longevity of EV batteries manufactured since 2022 has shown that most will outlast the vehicle they are installed in & with CATL providing up to 2 million km warranties on their current batteries plus the ability to charge them in the same time or less than filling up a tank of diesel or petrol reduces the benefit of a swappable battery. Most of the earlier EV batteries are currently being repurposed for fixed storage but if that market becomes saturated or the battery is too damaged etc they are ground up to form black mass and over 95% of the minerals are recovered for recycling.