Electric Airplane

German engineers have been making headway on a “zero-emissions” aircraft, a development that could represent the next big thing in air travel. The electric-powered plane uses a combination of fuel cell technology for long range and battery technology for short bursts of power, such as those needed during take-off. In its current configuration, the plane can carry four people and a total payload of 450 kilograms (nearly 1,000 pounds) for a distance of up to 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) at an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,500 feet).

By year end, the designers expect to increase the range to 1,300 kilometers (800 miles). Over the next few years, they anticipate that it will be possible to develop a fully electric plane that will be able to carry 40-60 passengers over a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) at a speed of 600 kilometers (370 miles) per hour through advances in hydrogen storage capacity and integrated aircraft design.

In Germany alone, it’s been estimated that 20 million passengers per year fly from distances less than 1,500 kilometers to connect with longer flights. Hydrogen fuel cell technology has the potential to greatly the noise and emissions associated with internal combustion engines on these regional flights.