We recently told you about Airbus’s ambitious plans for the VoltAir concept, a proposed electric-powered airliner that could take to the skies within 20 years — that vision is one step closer to reality with the successful flight test of a prototype electric airplane, called the E-Fan, in Bordeaux, France, that Airbus says was built to prove key electric propulsion technologies.
The E-Fan is a composite, tandem two-seater with a pair of ducted fans on the tail powered by individual electric motors and lithium polymer batteries in the wings. Airbus says it hopes to use hybrid electric engines in regional airliners with seating for between 70 and 80 passengers. Depeleted battery packs would be replaced with fresh ones at the gate, similar to the loading of baggage.
