The world’s first airplane completely powered by electricity has successfully taken to the skies for its maiden flight, and could bring down air travel cost by more than a third, its developer Airbus said.
The small experimental aircraft, called ‘E-Fan’, carried its first flight at an airport near Bordeaux in south-western France. Manufactured by Toulouse-based Airbus, E-Fan measures little more than 19 feet from nose to tail and makes slightly more noise than a hairdryer.
Powered by 120 lithium-ion polymer batteries, the plane’s first official flight in April 2014 lasted less than 10 minutes, though the plane has the capability to fly for around an hour before recharging.
An hour long commercial flight with the E-Fan, according to Airbus, could cost only USD 16, compared to USD 55 for a flight in a petrol-powered plane of the same size.
Airbus Group and its partners are aiming to perform research and development to construct a series version of the E-Fan and propose an industrial plan for a production facility close to Bordeaux Airport, Airbus said.