Flight of Delusion: Why Electric Planes Won't Save Us (But Local Living Might)
Human imagination and innovation deserve celebration, yet technology remains double-edged. Email transformed from exciting to overwhelming through spam. Cars evolved from efficient to unnecessarily powerful. Electric vehicles followed this pattern—marketed for luxury rather than efficiency.
Physics Constraints
The fundamental problem lies in energy density disparity:
- Jet fuel: ~12,000 Wh/kg
- Lithium-ion batteries: 250-300 Wh/kg
- Disadvantage ratio: 50x
Traditional aircraft burn fuel during flight, becoming lighter. Electric planes carry full battery weight constantly, severely limiting range, speed, and payload capacity.
Emotional Appeal Over Reality
Electric aviation persists because it provides "psychological relief"—allowing continued consumption while maintaining environmental righteousness. The narrative offers comforting headlines without confronting engineering realities.
Engineers and physicists recognize the fundamental disconnect but remain silent due to contractual obligations, institutional entrenchment, or exhaustion from fighting illusions.
What Actually Flies
Current air cargo prioritizes speed over efficiency, transporting:
- Fast fashion
- Fragile electronics
- Luxury perishables
- Consumer goods producible locally
Air cargo burns 5–10x more fuel per ton-mile compared to shipping or rail. A 50% consumption reduction would eliminate most air cargo necessity.
Military aviation's significant role—approximately 5% globally and nearly 12% in U.S. air traffic—lacks environmental oversight and emissions standards civilians must follow. This creates stark hypocrisy when leaders promote conservation while institutions burn fuel in secrecy.
Genuine Solutions
Rather than electrifying flight:
- Localize production
- Utilize trains, bicycles, boats, slow freight
- Design durable goods
- Build regenerative regional economies
"We don't need electric planes. We need fewer reasons to fly."
Reframing Innovation
True innovation means doing less rather than more—prioritizing presence and simplicity over technological acceleration. This isn't anti-technology but rather technology serving life rather than chasing consumption metrics.