Europe is about to have an electric plane

Three major European manufacturers, Rolls-Royce and Siemens, have announced plans to develop hybrid gasoline and electric hybrid vehicles.

In a project called E-Fan X , the firms said they would like to test a commercial electrically powered model by 2020. The 100-seat E-Fan X will be based on the model. BAe146 specializes in regional routes.

The three companies believe they can lay the foundations for commercial electric-powered routes, starting as early as 2025. The companies began using a 2-megawatt electric motor as one of four. Aircraft. If the test is successful, the second engine will also be replaced by an electric motor.

Model E-Fan X aircraft.

"E-Fan X is the next important step in the marketing plan to be realized in the near future ," said Paul Eremenko, chief technology officer for Airbus.

Each enterprise will monitor a different aspect of production. Airbus is responsible for integrating the engine with the flight control system. Rolls-Royce develops engines, generators 2 megawatts and power. Siemens will provide power distribution network.

More and more companies are researching to develop hybrid engines for aviation. Boeing has also invested in a Washington, DC-based startup company, Zunum, to pursue the goal of developing electric and airplane motors.

Zunum aims to build 10-12 passenger electric motors by 2022 and can increase the number of seats to 50-100 by 2030.

It is estimated that there are around 70 hybrid research programs in the world, half of which are currently being implemented by startups.

These account for about 2% of the carbon footprint of climate change. The aviation industry is aiming to reduce volume by combining technology with. Fuel is one of the biggest expenses for airlines.