An Oxford expert claims that fertilizer-powered planes and baking-powder-fueled cars may become a reality by the end of the decade.
Future of Transportation
The Daily Mail reports that currently, batteries made of lithium-ion play vital roles in the shift toward sustainable energy. These are used in iPhones, Teslas, and cordless drills. At the same time, several businesses think that hydrogen power is the sustainable approach that aviation can move toward.
However, Bill David, who serves as a professor of inorganic chemistry at Oxford University, thinks that surprising ingredients may become the future of transportation. One of these interesting ingredients can be found in the kitchen.
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Baking-powder-fueled Cars
He thinks that sodium, which can be found in baking powder, seawater, and salt, can be the battery forerunner for various cars and gadgets.
This element is remarkably more common compared to lithium, which is obtained through mining and is becoming hard to source out.
Professor Bill, who served as part of the team that came up with lithium batteries back in 1980, came up with such projections before a presentation for the annual conference of the AAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science).
He notes that this may not be perfect when it comes to performance. Hence, both are necessary. While lithium may still be on top, sodium can be an alternative.
Nevertheless, the Sun reports that, according to Professor Bill, a sodium battery may enable an electric car to travel up to 400 miles.
Bicarb or sodium molecules produce an electric current that facilitates power production. In contrast, for lithium-ion batteries, this procedure is performed by molecules of lithium.
Professor Bill states that while sodium batteries can be made from salt, baking powder is a more preferable option.
He notes that by the year 2030, the majority of electric cars will have a mix of sodium and lithium batteries to power them.
Fertilizer-powered Planes
Aviation, however, will have to take things differently. According to NY Breaking, professor Bill says that humanity will never conduct any intercontinental or international trips that are powered by batteries. These batteries are too heavy for that.
He thinks that ammonia, which can be found in fertilizers, is a sustainable option for aviation.
However, the Royal Society has released a report regarding Net Zero Aviation that includes a warning that using sustainable alternatives in place of jet fuel would entail that the UK would have to surrender half of its agricultural lands. The report also mentioned that kerosene does not have a clear single alternative. Synthetic, hydrogen, and anomia fuels need huge production.
Still, the study co-authored by professor Bill did not cover recent research regarding ammonia, which has been conducted at the Sunborn Systems at Oxford. The professor is part of a team there that aims to power aviation with existing sources of ammonia, including fertilizer.
Professor Bill notes that he was part of the team behind the report from the Royal Society and that he did not cover the technology in development. He mentions that he did not cover it because they wanted to be absolutely sure that it was an alternative before proposing it.
His team is coming up with a plane powered by ammonia. They are also receiving interest from manufacturers of internal combustion engines.
Theoretically, they can retrofit a Boeing 787 or an Airbus A320 and only modify its wings in order to substitute the fuel with ammonia. Considering calculations, at a rate of 500 miles per hour, one can receive the same speed with jet fuel and the same power amount. This can be achieved with 40% of the craft's range.
Professor Bill notes that even if a range hit is met, a 787 may still fly from London all the way to New York. They could witness the first ammonia-powered craft hit the skies by 2030.
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