E-Fan : World's First Electrical Airplane, Energy Efficient & less Noise

The world's first airplane completely powered by electricity successfully had its maiden flight earlier and all went good.

The small experimental aircraft called is called 'E-Fan', manufactured by Toulouse-based Airbus. E-Fan measures around 19 feet from nose to tail and makes noise bit more than a hairdryer.

Powered by 120 250V lithium-ion polymer batteries which are stored in the wings, the plane's first official flight lasted less than 10 minutes, though the plane has the capability to fly for around an hour before recharging it again.

There's also a backup battery in case the main ones fail, which lasts around 15 minutes, you could land it somewhere in emergency.
The plane can get up to a respectable 220km/h with a cruising speed of 160km/h on its 30kW engines.

According to Airbus, this hour long flight with the E-Fan could cost only USD 16, compared to USD 55 for a flight in a petrol-powered plane of the same size.

"The E-Fan project and Airbus Group's commitment to the field of electric and hybrid research show our vision of future technological developments," Airbus Group Chief Technical Officer Jean Botti said.

Airbus plans to manufacture two versions of the E-Fan. The two-seater E-Fan 2.0 will be a fully electric training aircraft, while E-Fan 4.0 will be used for both training and general flight purposes and will be powered by a hybrid system, report said.

What makes it special is the fact its engines are powered by electricity hence affording it a low-noise, eco-friendly profile & could prove to be a key step towards greener, quieter and cheaper air travel.