Passengers with a low-cost airline
could be served water created as a waste product from hydrogen batteries under
plans for a zero-emissions fuel system.
Budget airline easyJet made the claim
as it unveiled designs for a hybrid plane which could be trialled this year.
The concept would involve storing a
hydrogen fuel cell in the aircraft's hold. Energy captured as the brakes are
deployed during landing would then power the jet when it is on the ground,
similar to the kinetic energy recovery system used in Formula One.
Ian Davies, easyJet's head of
engineering, said the water produced as a waste product from the batteries
would be discarded or reused.
Asked whether it would be served to
passengers, he replied: "I think we could reuse the water. It's absolutely
pure. Why would we throw water away when it's absolutely pure?"
Mr Davies said it could be used for
drinking and flushing toilets.
He added: "This is potentially
the freshest, cleanest water."
EasyJet estimates around 4 per cent
of its fuel consumption is used when its aircraft are taxiing. It hopes hybrid
planes could save around 50,000 tonnes of fuel for its fleet each year. This is
equivalent to $US25 million-$US35 million ($A35 million-$A49 million).
The system is being developed in
partnership with Cranfield University in Bedfordshire.
Mr Davies, speaking in Venice at the
launch of easyJet's latest base, said: "The hybrid plane concept is both a
vision of the future and a challenge to our partners and suppliers to continue
to push the boundaries towards reducing our carbon emissions."
EasyJet hopes to launch the hybrid
plane within the next decade. (news.co.au)
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