$25 tickets, quieter airports,

25元的機票，比較安靜的機場。

or even shorter runways.

甚至更短的跑道。

Companies have been betting on

公司一直在押注

battery-powered planes for this cleaner future.

電池驅動的飛機，以實現這個更清潔的未來。

But even though electric planes

但儘管電動飛機

have been around since the 1970s,

從上世紀70年代開始就已經出現了。

they haven't really taken off.

他們還沒有真正起飛。

So, what's keeping them grounded?

那麼，是什麼讓他們立足於此？

In the late 1800s,

在19世紀末。

two French army officers experimented

兩名法軍軍官試驗

with electricity to propel an airship,

用電來推動飛船。

but they ran into problems

但他們遇到了問題

when the battery just couldn't hold enough energy.

當電池無法容納足夠的能量時。

This would become a recurring problem

這將成為一個反覆出現的問題

for the next 100 years.

在未來100年裡，。

When nickel-cadmium batteries were invented,

鎳鎘電池發明時。

the first flight with an electric motor took off,

第一次使用電動機的飛行起飛了。

but it only lasted less than 15 minutes.

但它只持續了不到15分鐘。

Then, in the 1980s,

然後，在80年代。

lithium-ion batteries were invented.

鋰離子電池被髮明出來。

They could store more power than ever before,

它們可以儲存比以往更多的能量。

leading to planes like the Solar Impulse 2.

導致像太陽動力2號這樣的飛機。

Starting in 2015, the solar-powered aircraft

從2015年開始，太陽能飛機。

spent 16 months flying around the world,

花了16個月時間在世界各地飛行。

except it flew at an average speed

除了它的平均速度

of 28 to 34 mph.

時速28到34英里。

Solar Impulse 2 is part of a movement

Solar Impulse 2是一個運動的一部分

in recent years to develop alternative energies,

近年來發展替代能源。

especially when people and governments started realizing

特別是當人們和政府開始意識到

just how bad flying was for the environment.

只是飛行對環境有多不好。

The aviation industry emitted

航空業的排放量

about 1 billion tons CO2 in 2019.

2019年約10億噸二氧化碳。

That's about 2.5% of global emissions.

這大約是全球排放量的2.5%。

That might not sound like a lot,

這可能聽起來不大。

but it's almost as much as the entire continent

但它幾乎是整個大陸的數量。

of South America emits in a year.

南美洲一年的排放量。

Kevin Noertker: We need to make changes to the industry,

Kevin Noertker:我們需要改變這個行業。

and electrification is one of the big trends

和電氣化是大勢所趨。

which will hopefully reduce that burden.

這將有望減輕這一負擔。

Narrator: Electric planes have been

旁白：電動飛機已經

on people's mind for a while,

在人們的心目中，有一段時間。

but two big problems are keeping electric grounded.

但有兩個大問題是保持電的接地。

First, the technology's not quite ready.

首先，技術還沒有完全準備好。

When you're trying to get an electric plane off the ground,

當你想讓電動飛機起飛的時候。

you want a battery that packs a lot of punch

你想要的是一個強大的電池。

in a little package, but...

在一個小包裝，但...

Carolina Anderson: Batteries are not as efficient as gas,

卡羅琳娜-安德森。電池的效率不如天然氣。

and they're probably not gonna be for a while.

他們可能不會有一段時間。

Narrator: A battery's efficiency,

旁白：電池的效率

or ability to hold power,

或掌握權力的能力。

is measured in specific energy.

是以比能量來衡量的。

Right now, even the best batteries have a specific energy

現在，即使是最好的電池也有一個特定的能量。

of only 250 watt-hours per kilogram,

每公斤僅250瓦時。

but we have to get closer to 800 to really start flying,

但我們必須要接近800元才能真正開始飛行。

and that is still nothing compared

聊勝於無

to jet fuel's specific energy,

到噴氣燃料的比能量。

which is nearly 12,000 watt-hours per kilogram.

即每公斤近12000瓦時。

Think about it like those computers from the '80s.

想想看，就像80年代的那些電腦。

They were huge, but way less powerful

他們的體型很大，但力量卻小了很多

than the sleek ones we have today.

比我們今天的那些時尚的。

Right now, batteries are like those '80s computers.

現在，電池就像那些80年代的電腦。

They're not as powerful as they need to be,

他們的力量並不像他們需要的那樣強大。

and they're not just big, they're also heavy.

而且它們不僅大，還很重。

So if you want to add more power to a plane,

所以如果你想給飛機增加更多的動力。

you need to get a bigger battery,

你需要得到一個更大的電池。

and to get that plane airborne despite the weight,

並讓那架飛機不顧重量升空。

you'll need even bigger battery that's more powerful,

你需要更大的電池，更強大的。

but that means more weight.

但這意味著更多的重量。

And then you'll need an even bigger battery

然後你需要一個更大的電池。

to offset that weight.

以抵消該重量。

Oh, you get the point.

哦，你明白我的意思了。

But even if engineers design a plane

但即使工程師們設計出一架飛機

around the shortfalls in battery tech,

圍繞電池技術的不足。

they have to take on the industry's second hurdle,

他們要攻克行業的第二道難關。

certification.

認證；

In the US, that means getting permission

在美國，這意味著獲得許可

from the Federal Aviation Administration

聯邦航空管理局

to test and fly an electric plane.

來測試和駕駛電動飛機。

Companies have to prove every inch

公司必須證明每一寸土地

of their aircraft is safe, passing a series of tests,

的其飛機是否安全，通過一系列測試。

one of which is to make sure the battery cells

其中之一是要確保電池芯子

won't catch fire.

不會著火。

Roei Ganzarski: If something goes wrong,

羅伊-甘扎爾斯基：如果出了問題。

you can't stop.

你不能停止。

You can't pull to the side of the road.

你不能把車停在路邊。

There's only one place for that airplane to go.

那架飛機只有一個地方可以去。

And so the regulatory stringency is much higher,

所以監管的嚴格程度就高了很多。

the requirements for reliability,

對可靠性的要求。

redundancy, and safety

冗餘和安全

are much higher for a good reason.

是高得多的原因。

You have no alternate.

你沒有其他選擇

Narrator: The FAA amended its rules in 2016

旁白：聯邦航空局在2016年修改了規則

to allow electric propulsion systems in airplanes

允許在飛機上使用電動推進系統。

built for up to 19 passengers.

可容納19名乘客。

The real problem, though, is that certification,

不過，真正的問題是，認證。

even with these amendments, takes years,

即使有這些修正案，也需要幾年時間。

so companies have gotten creative.

所以企業紛紛發揮創意。

They've started to retrofit old planes

他們已經開始改裝舊飛機了。

to get certified quicker.

以便更快地獲得認證。

Ganzarski: You're taking out the entire old,

甘扎爾斯基：你把整個老。

gas-guzzling, emission-creating engine

油耗發動機

and its fuel system,

及其燃料系統。

and replacing that space and weight

並取代這種空間和重量

with an electric propulsion system.

帶電動推進系統。

Narrator: Retrofitting has happened in phases.

旁白：改造是分階段進行的

The first phase was from Slovenian company Pipistrel.

第一階段是斯洛文尼亞公司Pipistrel的。

It created the world's first all-electric

它創造了世界上第一輛全電動汽車。

two-seater plane back in 2007

早在2007年

by putting an electric engine in a glider.

通過把電動發動機放在滑翔機上。

Tine Tomažič: Gliders are safe to fly by definition,

Tine Tomažič:滑翔機是安全飛行的定義。

even without a functioning engine,

即使沒有正常運轉的發動機。

so we were able to experiment

是以，我們能夠試驗

without putting anybody at risk

不危及任何人

or do harm to anyone.

或對任何人造成傷害。

Narrator: Today, those planes are used for pilot training.

旁白：今天，那些飛機被用於飛行員訓練。

The second phase: a hybrid.

第二階段：混合型。

Los Angeles company Ampaire replaced one of the two engines

洛杉磯公司Ampaire更換了兩臺發動機中的一臺。

in a 1973 Cessna with an electric one.

在1973年的塞斯納的電動。

Ampaire hopes to get its new plane, the Electric Eel,

安培爾希望能讓其新機 "電鰻"。

certified for commercial flights by 2021.

到2021年獲得商業飛行認證。

And, finally, over in Vancouver,

最後，在溫哥華。

electric-motor manufacturer MagniX

電機制造商MagniX

and Vancouver-based airline Harbour Air

和溫哥華的航空公司Harbour Air

flew a retrofitted 62-year-old plane.

開著一架改裝過的62歲飛機。

A 15-minute test flight in December 2019

2019年12月進行15分鐘的試飛。

made it the world's first

使其成為世界上第一個

all-electric commercial plane to fly.

全電動商用飛機飛。

It proved that electric could actually take off.

它證明了電動真的可以起飛。

The two companies' goal is now to electrify

兩家公司現在的目標是實現電氣化。

the rest of Harbour Air's fleet

港航機隊的其他成員

of more than 40 seaplanes

40多架水上飛機

and have it certified by the end of 2021.

並在2021年底前完成認證。

So, retrofitting seems perfect.

所以，改裝似乎很完美。

The problem, though, is that it limits you

但問題是，它限制了你。

to what the plane structure is already built for,

到平面結構已經建成的目的。

so if the original motor is, say,

所以如果原廠電機是，說。

1,000 pounds, and you remove it, then...

1,000磅，你把它移走，然後... ...

Ganzarski: I only have 1,000 pounds to put back in, right?

甘扎爾斯基：我只有1000斤，可以放回去吧？

I can't make the total package heavier.

我不能讓總包更重。

Narrator: Electric motors are smaller

旁白：電動馬達比較小

and lighter than gas ones,

而且比燃氣的輕。

but remember, those batteries are heavy.

但記住，這些電池很重。

Ganzarski: So you lose range because batteries,

甘扎爾斯基：所以你會因為電池而失去續航能力。

for the same amount of power,

對於同樣的功率。

are so much heavier than fuel.

比燃料重得多。

Narrator: So while Harbour Air and MagniX

旁白：所以當港航和麥格尼克斯

figured out the balance of weight in their plane,

想出了他們飛機上的重量平衡。

the range took a hit.

的範圍受到了衝擊。

Their electric plane can go over 100 miles,

他們的電動飛機能飛100多英里。

a little less than the distance from Seattle to Vancouver,

比從西雅圖到溫哥華的距離還要短一些。

but for electric planes to be successful long-term,

但電動飛機要想長期成功。

they'll have to go farther.

他們將不得不去更遠的地方。

Israeli company Eviation might have a solution.

以色列公司Eviation可能有一個解決方案。

Instead of retrofitting an old plane,

而不是改裝一架舊飛機。

its engineers built a plane from scratch.

其工程師從頭開始建造了一架飛機。

The nine-seater plane, Alice,

九座的飛機，愛麗絲。

was designed around the battery to reduce weight.

是圍繞電池設計的，以減輕重量。

Omer Bar-Yohay: That battery's literally all over the place.

Omer Bar-Yohay：那電池簡直是到處都是。

It's under the floor, it's in the wings,

它在地板下，它在翅膀上。

it's the fuselage in different locations.

是機身的不同位置。

Narrator: Alice, in theory, could fly up to 650 miles,

旁白：理論上，愛麗絲可以飛到650英里遠

roughly a flight from Las Vegas to Denver,

大概是從拉斯維加斯到丹佛的班機。

but because it was built from the ground up,

但因為它是從頭開始建造的。

getting her certified is taking longer.

讓她的認證是需要更長的時間。

Bar-Yohay: We're very confident that we will be

巴-約海：我們非常有信心，我們將在。

testing the plane in flight early 2020

試飛

and believe that from that point on

並認為從此

the certification process will take about two years.

認證過程大約需要兩年時間。

Narrator: Each electric plane in development

旁白：每架電動飛機都在開發中

is different, but they all have one thing in common:

是不同的，但他們都有一個共同點。

they're going after flights under 500 miles.

他們要追尋500英里以下的班機。

And while it may not seem like an impressive distance,

雖然這看起來並不是一個令人印象深刻的距離。

these short-range electric planes

這些短程電動飛機

could solve a major problem in travel.

可以解決出行中的一大問題。

In 2018, a little less than half

2018年，略低於一半

of all air tickets sold globally

佔全球售出的所有機票的比例

were for flights under 500 miles,

是針對500英里以下的飛行。

but instead of using small, efficient planes

而不是使用小型高效的飛機

designed for these shorter routes,

為這些較短的路線設計。

we often use expensive airliners

我們經常使用昂貴的客機

built to fly thousands of miles.

建成後可飛行數千英里。

These planes are most efficient if they're able

這些飛機如果能夠做到以下幾點，則效率最高

to cruise for a long period of time,

要長時間巡航。

but on a flight that's 50 minutes,

但在50分鐘的班機上。

these planes go up, and they come right back down.

這些飛機飛起來，然後又回來了。

Currently, a 109-mile flight from Los Angeles

目前，從洛杉磯出發的109英里班機

to San Diego emits about 110 pounds of CO2.

到聖地亞哥會排放大約110磅的二氧化碳。

Bar-Yohay: For a technical-savvy person,

巴-約海：對於一個精通技術的人來說。

that's an insanity, because we're using

這是一個瘋狂的，因為我們使用的是

the wrong tools for the job.

錯誤的工作工具。

Narrator: In the last four decades,

旁白：在過去40年裡

flying regional with commercial jets

用商用飛機飛支線

got so expensive for airlines

航空公司的成本太高了

in the US, Europe, and Australia

在美國、歐洲和澳洲

that they began stopping service to regional airports.

他們開始停止對地區機場的服務。

Today, of the 20,000

今天，在20,000名員工中

FAA-approved runways in the US,

美國聯邦航空局準許的跑道。

only 2.5% are currently active.

目前只有2.5%的人在活動。

The regional airports left are running at a loss

剩下的區域性機場都在虧損運行中

or even going bankrupt,

甚至破產。

but electric planes could be a fix,

但電動飛機可能是一個解決方案。

and there's already an infrastructure for them.

而且已經有了一個基礎設施。

Omer says 11,000 of those 20,000 US runways

奧梅爾說，美國這2萬條跑道中，有1.1萬條。

could support an electric plane,

可以支持電動飛機。

which is a lot cheaper to operate.

這在操作上要便宜很多。

Alice could save about $800 per flight hour

愛麗絲每飛行一小時可節省約800美元

compared to a normal turboprop plane.

與普通渦輪螺旋槳飛機相比。

Noertker: It's a tenfold increase in the number

諾特克。這是一個十倍的增長的數量

of potential destinations,

潛在目的地。

all the while not having the significant burdens

百無一失

on the communities of noise and pollutions.

噪聲和汙染對社區的影響。

Narrator: As for the distant future,

旁白：至於遙遠的未來

electric aviation could come in all kinds of forms.

電動航空可以以各種形式出現。

Uber is already working on an

Uber已經在研發一款

electrical vertical takeoff and landing vehicle,

電動垂直起降飛行器。

or eVTOL,

或eVTOL。

that could pick you up right at your house

可以接你到你家

and fly you to an airport.

並把你送到機場。

Even big players like Airbus, Boeing,

即使是空客、波音這樣的大企業。

and Rolls-Royce are betting on this future.

和勞斯萊斯都在賭這個未來。

Tomažič: We set out on a journey that's akin

Tomažič。我們踏上了一段類似的旅程

to crawling, walking, running, leaping.

到爬行、行走、奔跑、跳躍。

We're now in the phase of walking.

我們現在正處於行走的階段。

The running part will be

運行部分將是

the bigger electric airplanes

大飛機

flying longer distances,

飛行距離較長。

and the big leaps,

和大躍進。

coming in a decade or so,

在十年左右的時間裡，來。

will be the eVTOL segment,

將是eVTOL部分。

which is vertical takeoff and landing.

也就是垂直起降。

Narrator: Everyone we talked to said that's still

旁白：和我們交談過的人都說

about 15 years off,

大約15年後。

and now that an electric plane

而現在，電動飛機

has actually proven successful,

實際上已經證明是成功的。

those in the industry are hopeful that investment

業內人士希望，投資

into battery development will start rolling in.

成電池開發將開始滾滾而來。

Because to break out of that infinite power

因為要突破那無窮的力量

and weight loop we were talking about,

和我們說的重量環。

we're gonna need more efficient batteries

我們將需要更高效的電池

for electric planes to really take off.

電動飛機才能真正起飛。

Bar-Yohay: The question is,

巴-約海：問題是。

when does it make economic sense

何時才有經濟效益

and who has the many billions it will take

誰有幾十億的資金？

to bring a product like this

帶來這樣的產品

to market in 15 years' time?

15年後推向市場？

So, is it the future?

那麼，它是未來嗎？

Absolutely.

絕對的