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It would. Liquid fuels would still have an enormous energy storage to weight ratio advantage, but electric aircraft might become good enough to be practically useful.

I'd imagine there could be military applications too, once the energy density is high enough to be useful. If you have, say, a bunch of tanks that can run off of diesel or batteries, then you can recharge them opportunistically whenever power is available (i.e. if you're defending a city that still has functioning utilities) and save the diesel for when you have to move long distances. Basically, it makes the fuel resupply logistics more flexible, and it reduces costs and climate impact in peacetime if exercises are conducted mainly on batteries.




I think the biggest advantage would be that you wouldn't show up so much on thermovison cameras, since ICEs create so much excess heat.


Reliable utility electricity in a war zone seems unlikely. Though big 'ol power plants make pretty easy and tempting targets (especially if you know your opponent relies on it to drive their vehicles).

This would be a great use case for space-based microwave solar though (if it ever gets off the ground).


...ackshually: https://twitter.com/t1heikkila/status/1524092117622169604

Odessa in Ukraine doesn't have gasoline or diesel. They do have electricity though and people with EVs are driving around just fine - even an electric Taxi.

Gasoline distribution points (gas stations) tend to also blow up in a pretty ball of fire when attacked.

An EV can be charged from any socket with working power.


Then clouds/a thunderstorm hits and all your tanks die due to lack of power


Fuel supply lines are a big thing in modern warfare. You can chart most of the big tactical moves in WW2 as being about control of fuel supplies.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_campaign_of_World_War_II

which is probably part of the reason the US Army is so big on renewables.


And Japan mostly went to war over oil.


Automated Transport Gliders: Have a blended Wing with Containers, a few of them Batterys, they circle up, fly toward their destination, Land, Replace with Recharged and Go back. Slow, but nearly no downtime and thus interesting.




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