The key takeaway from the study is that small electric aircraft can have a notably lower climate impact — up to 60% less — and other types of environmental impacts than equivalent fossil-fueled aircraft. However, there is a trade-off regarding mineral resource scarcity — about 50% more even in the most favorable scenario, mainly due to rare metals in the batteries of the electric aircraft, according to researchers.
Source: general aviationResearchers compare climate impact of electric aircraft vs those powered by fossil fuels