Electric aviation typically has to battle with the dilemma that the more energy-efficient an electric aircraft is, the noisier it gets.
Electrification is seen as a way to reduce emissions from aviation in the future, but due to the challenges posed by longer ranges, interest is chiefly focused on electric propeller planes covering shorter distances.
Propellers connected to electric motors are considered the most efficient propulsion system for regional and domestic flights but often create a lot of noise pollution.
This noise not only disturbs air passengers but also those on the ground, as electric aircraft will need to fly at relatively low altitudes, with noise disturbance reaching residential areas and animal life.
“We can see that the more blades a propeller has, the lower the noise emissions. But with fewer blades, propulsion becomes more efficient and the electric aircraft can fly for longer. In that sense, there is a trade-off between energy...