How would it feel like to fly over the Atlantic on electric power alone?
Elon Musk, CEO of both Tesla Motors and SpaceX, is certain that this is not only plausible, but that he can make it happen during this lifetime.
In a recent interview, he declared that a future where transportation will shift toward greener sources of energy is right up the road.
"Aircraft and ships, and all other modes of transport, will go fully electric — not half electric, but fully electric," Musk affirmed.
The impact on global pollution levels would be massive. According to a leaked UN report dating to 2008, 4.5 percent of the yearly worldwide greenhouse gases come from shipping. It is not simply cargo ships that are responsible for damaging the planet.
Cruise ships are culprits, as well, because a lot of them work on bunker fuel. The cheap but polluting combustible generates high levels of toxic waste, which gets dumped into bodies of water.
Musk's project for electric aircraft might alleviate one of the leading causes of carbon emissions. For example, commuting from New York to London generates approximately 2 to 3 tons of carbon dioxide per person. That is about the same level of carbon dioxide produced by someone warming up his home for a full year in Europe. As aircraft traffic surges, the carbon footprint continues to enlarge.
"I think one could do a pretty cool supersonic, vertical take-off and landing electric jet," Musk declared. "I have a design in mind for that."
The chief executive said he even imagines an airline company based solely on electrical power.
Tesla leads the vanguard of eco-friendly, albeit expensive, vehicles. Its newly released sedan, the Model S, sports the most efficient engine so far. In September, the company revealed the Model X, the first fully electric SUV, and it seems to be as nice to look at as it is sustainable.
Some criticize Musk's approach to automotive power, however. They point out that even if the electric cars run on batteries, majority of the batteries are fueled by a power grid running on conventional fossil fuels.
When asked if the electrical current will be the main power source of the future, Musk believes there is "no question" about that.
