Airbus Has Its Sights Set On Hybrid Electric Planes

Airbus Has Its Sights Set On Hybrid Electric Planes
The new Airbus A350 XWB stands on the production premisses of the European aircraft manufacturing company Airbus in Hamburg, northern Germany on April 07, 2014. Airbus presented the interior of its future A350 which - according to the company - will offer 'more personal space, flexibility and comfort' than other aircrafts in its class. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK LUX (Photo credit should read PATRICK LUX/AFP/Getty Images)
The new Airbus A350 XWB stands on the production premisses of the European aircraft manufacturing company Airbus in Hamburg, northern Germany on April 07, 2014. Airbus presented the interior of its future A350 which - according to the company - will offer 'more personal space, flexibility and comfort' than other aircrafts in its class. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK LUX (Photo credit should read PATRICK LUX/AFP/Getty Images)

MUNICH (Reuters) - Aircraft maker Airbus Group NV

The development of a regional plane, seating between 70 and 90 people, that can take off and land using electric power could take between 15 and 20 years, Airbus Group Chief Technology Officer Jean Botti told reporters in Munich.

Airbus, which with Boeing Co

Airbus is already working on an all-electric two-seater plane, powered by two electric motors with a combined output of 60 kilowatts, hoping this technology will serve as a step to bringing electric motors on to larger aircraft.

The two-seater, which Airbus says is suited for short missions such as pilot training and aerobatics, can run on its lithium-ion polymer batteries for half an hour, with the aim to get it up to an hour.

The batteries are tricky, Botti said. "They're causing us a lot of headaches."

Botti, who was part of a team developing battery-powered cars at General Motors Co

Botti declined to comment on how much the group was investing in hybrid and electric technologies.

The two-seater E-Fan will be built at Bordeaux in southwest France and production could start at the end of 2017. Botti said he would like to see a prototype for a regional jet in 2030.

(Writing by Victoria Bryan; Editing by David Holmes)

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