NASA Hints At Electric X-57 Maxwell Airplane Debut at AirVenture 2018
The X-57 is expected to fly for the first time in 2019.
Due to the electric powertrain and 14 individual propellers, efficiency of the X-57 is 500% higher than conventional aircraft.
Only time will tell whether the research plane will open the way for a commercial model in the future. A lot depends on batteries – their energy density and costs.
https://insideevs.com/nasa-electric-x-57-maxwell-airplane/amp/