Many projects and events nowadays focus on helping the environment become a better, much more greener place. Undoubtedly, many companies are looking for energy-efficient ways that not only help the environment, but help to create a brighter future. NASA, one of the world’s leading technology agencies, is an example of one such company. Its newest project aims to make eco-friendly and ultra-efficient hybrid planes.
Over the years, in an attempt to lower fuel costs, companies have tried to find alternative fuel options through experimentation with various products, such as biofuel from algae to household cooking oil. NASA, however, took another angle. They created futuristic designs of hybrid planes that are up to 70 percent more fuel efficient than current aircrafts, hoping to negate not only noise, but also as much as 75 percent of nitrous oxide by-products. The project, which NASA has dubbed as N+3, attempts to develop planes that could be used for over three generations.
Another project by NASA, though less popular, is the N+2 initiative, which aims to reduce the pollution caused by aircrafts by cutting 50 percent of fuel consumption between the years 2020 and 2025. Nitrous oxide emissions will lessen by as much 75 percent, if this goal is achieved.
Designers that work on this project are also designers coming from other companies, such as Lockheed Martin, GE Aviation, and Boeing, the latter proclaiming that another project of theirs will fly by the time NASA’s first project is to be delivered. Boeing has also proposed a hybrid type of aircraft that could fly using electricity and clean biofuels, rather than the tradition jet fuel.
With the ideas being so futuristic, it would take years for airline corporations to make their own hybrid planes. In addition, the safety concerns tied to these new pieces of technology would require extensive testing.
A solar-powered, emission-free plane, known as the Solar Impulse, just recently underwent a test flight. It can run without any kind of fuel, meaning it could potentially fly indefinitely, although commercial airlines have deemed the model “impractical.” The only flaw in the sun-powered vehicle seems to be its speed, as it only went up to 35 mph during its test flight.
Regardless, NASA’s Director of Aviation Development Programs, Jay Dyer, predicted that solar-powered planes would be feasible in the next 50 years or so, and might even be used commercially. Worldwide commercial fliers are anticipated to double between 2015 and 2030, which would ultimately raise fuel usage and emissions. However, as NASA and other corporations focus on their hybrid planes, a greener, brighter future might be what is in store for us. Click here for a glance.
