The Future of Electric Propulsion
Various manufacturers might claim that a differently built electric motor is more environmentally friendly because it doesn’t use certain materials. But the problem is that all materials require mining and, although not all of them are created equal, each motor has its own environmental footprint to face. In the end, all underlying technology has trade-offs.
This April, Virtual UAV Manufacturers Meet Up, organized by MicroPilot, provided its audiences with engaging webinars and discussions on subjects most relevant to the industry. A regular participant, ePropelled provided its experts to address efficiency.
Electric motor performance in UAVs is a critical part of their design. Weight, operating temperature, and electrical efficiency of the power components influence various parameters such as flight duration, payload, operating ceiling, and range. Electric motors and their design need to account for all the above and more.
The biggest consumers of electricity in the residential sector and in buildings overall are space heating and cooling, lighting, water heating, space heating, appliances, and electronics. In the commercial sector, this comes from lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Finally, in manufacturing, more than half of electricity powers motors (machine drives), with other significant uses covering heating and cooling.
Climate change is not only caused by internal combustion engines. According to the International Energy Agency, electric motors and systems in machines and appliances account for over 40% of global electricity consumption. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) fall into that category and are used in huge numbers in buildings around the world.
