This April Airbus successfully tested an electric aircraft called the E-Fan 2.0 over the skies of France. The 2 passenger aircraft was designed from the ground up as an electric airplane versus previous attempts by other aircraft manufacturers which utilized existing fuel burning based frames that were modified to utilize battery power resulting in poor performance. The plane was in response to the European Commissions “Flight path2050” , a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 75%and nitrous oxide emissions by 90% by 2050. The E-Fan 2.0 releases no emissions and is virtually silent, a major selling point of electric aircraft as airports worldwide are under tighter scheduling restrictions due to the increasing noise pollution. The Airbus E-Fan 2.0 was built from the ground up with the intention of being electric powered. It has a wingspan of31 feet and can carry two people. The E-Fan has three electric motors and are powered by two 250V Lithium ion polymer batteries from a Korean battery manufacturer named KOKAMI. The batteries have no cooling system but rather use airflow to keep them from overheating. Due to the carbon fiber composite structure the planes weighs in at only 1100 lbs when empty and one reason for the success of the plane since batteries wee usually a weight issue in previous electric aircraft. The E-Fan can fly for almost an hour at cruising speed of 100 mph with a maximum of 124 mph. Airbus is working on constructing a fleet of E-Fans for training pilots and will debut a 4 seater hybrid which will have extended flight time. A commercial hybrid airplane is expected to debut by 2030and expected to carry between 70 and 90 passengers. What I thought was most compelling about the planned commercial aircraft is that Airbus believes it will be 50 times cheaper to operate than running the traditional fossil fuel based aircraft. More importantly is the fact that when governments put in place regulations to control pollution or incentives to use alternative forms of energy businesses react.

1. Airbus Sets High Hopes For The Future Of Electric Powered Aircraft
By Kevin Woodbridge Sept. 2014
This April Airbus successfully tested an electric aircraft called the E-Fan 2.0 over the skies of France.
The 2 passenger aircraft was designed from the ground up as an electric airplane versus previous
attempts by other aircraft manufacturers which utilized existing fuel burning based frames that were
modified to utilize battery power resulting in poor performance. The plane was in response to the
European Commissions “Flight path2050” , a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 75%and nitrous
oxide emissions by 90% by 2050. The E-Fan 2.0 releases no emissions and is virtually silent, a major
selling point of electric aircraft as airports worldwide are under tighter scheduling restrictions due to
the increasing noise pollution.
The Airbus E-Fan 2.0 was built from the ground up with the intention of being electric powered. It has a
wingspan of31 feet and can carry two people. The E-Fan has three electric motors and are powered by
two 250V Lithium ion polymer batteries from a Korean battery manufacturer named KOKAMI. The
batteries have no cooling system but rather use airflow to keep them from overheating. Due to the
carbon fiber composite structure the planes weighs in at only 1100 lbs when empty and one reason for
the success of the plane since batteries wee usually a weight issue in previous electric aircraft. The E-Fan
can fly for almost an hour at cruising speed of 100 mph with a maximum of 124 mph.
Airbus is working on constructing a fleet of E-Fans for training pilots and will debut a 4 seater hybrid
which will have extended flight time. A commercial hybrid airplane is expected to debut by 2030and
expected to carry between 70 and 90 passengers.
What I thought was most compelling about the planned commercial aircraft is that Airbus believes it will
be 50 times cheaper to operate than running the traditional fossil fuel based aircraft. More importantly
is the fact that when governments put in place regulations to control pollution or incentives to use
alternative forms of energy businesses react.