NASA's Latest X-Plane is Electric

The X Plane: X-57 Maxwell

Source:  NASA image

Experimental High Performance Plane 

NASA has developed a fully electric 

plane, the X-57 Maxwell.  It has

twelve small motors and two

cruise motors, all on its wings.

The aircraft is experimental 

but it's performance is

outstanding.  NASA has

optimized it for high performance

cruising.  X-57 is powered

by two 400 pound lithium-ion

battery packs in the plane's

cabin.  The battery packs

contain 23 kilowatt hours of

power.  This is NASA's first

piloted X-Plane in 20 years.

Cost Saving, Green Electric Flying

The X-57 is a research platform for

NASA to develop and optimize

e-flying technology.  NASA says 

the X-57 provides a 500%

increase in high speed cruising 

efficiency.  The propulsion

system saves $165 per hour compared to

a combusion engine.  And, it

cuts the hourly operating cost of 

energy from 45% to 9%.

Test Flight

The X-57 will undergo its first

test flight within a year.

NASA is publishing its X-57

research, designs and technology 

online for industry developers to

benefit from.  At the moment, 

it won't be available for commercial

use.  The plane has only

one seat for the pilot.  The

rest of the cabin is loaded with

instruments and the battery packs.

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