US EditionPrototype Sodium-Air Fuel Cell Could Power Electric Planes and Trains
- Researchers at MIT developed a prototype sodium-air fuel cell that could power electric planes and trains with zero carbon emissions.
- This innovation addresses the serious issue of limited energy density in lithium-ion batteries that restricts electric aviation and transport systems.
- The cell uses liquid sodium metal as fuel, offering over three times the energy per weight compared to current lithium-ion batteries, demonstrated in experimental prototypes.
- Testing of the prototype demonstrated energy densities close to 1,700 watt-hours per kilogram within individual stacks, which corresponds to more than 1,000 watt-hours when considering the entire system, potentially enabling electric flights that cover approximately 80% of domestic routes.
- The team formed Propel Aero to commercialize the technology, which could also enable rail and marine transport and potentially aid ocean de-acidification via byproducts.
33 Articles
33 Articles
MIT Unveils High-Energy Sodium Fuel Cell That Could Redefine Electric Flight
Electric vehicles are becoming commonplace on roads worldwide, but powering larger-scale transportation—such as trains, ships, and airplanes—has remained a major technological challenge. Now, new research from MIT may offer a breakthrough solution using an innovative fuel cell system that could outperform traditional batteries in energy-to-weight efficiency. Rather than trying to push lithium-ion battery technology to new extremes, the MIT team …
Science Daily
MITNew fuel cell could enable electric aviation
Engineers developed a fuel cell that offers more than three times as much energy per pound compared to lithium-ion batteries. Powered by a reaction between sodium metal and air, the device could be lightweight enough to enable the electrification of airplanes, trucks, or ships.
ABC FOX Montana
MIT’s new fuel cell could pave way for electric airplanes
Scientists say the devices could pack three times as much energy per pound as today’s best EV batteries.
'Crazy idea' proposed for high density, low cost fuel cell
An H-cell modified with electrodes and an ion-conducting ceramic membrane to conduct sodium-air fuel cell experiments. Credit: Gretchen Ertl Materials scientists have designed a fuel cell which they say could deliver 3 times as much energy per unit of weight as the lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles today. Unlike a battery, the liquid sodium-air device only needs to be refuelled, not recharged. Luckily, sodium (a constituent of tabl…
Prototype sodium-air fuel cell could power electric planes and trains
Batteries are nearing their limits in terms of how much power they can store for a given weight. That's a serious obstacle for energy innovation and the search for new ways to power airplanes, trains, and ships. Now, researchers ...
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