Part 5/10:
Electric airplanes demand high-performance, reliable motors that operate efficiently at high altitudes. Unlike cars, which can pull over if something goes wrong, aircraft operate at tens of thousands of feet without the luxury of roadside stops. The challenge extends to managing heat generated by the electric motors; overheating could compromise safety or add undesirable weight through extensive cooling systems.
Innovators have responded by developing proprietary internal cooling systems that keep motors lightweight while maintaining optimal temperatures. For example, magniX, a leading company in electric propulsion, achieved a milestone last year by powering a retrofitted Cessna with a 750-horsepower electric system—the largest aircraft to fly solely on electricity to date.