Electric commercial aircrafts are on the horizon

We've already got electric trains and automobiles powered by batteries and fuel cells, so it seems only natural that planes are up next. And according to the Economist, the aerospace industry is working hard to develop electric technology for commercial use in the sky.

Back in June, Airbus debuted the E-Fan, the world's first silent, emissions-free electric aircraft. The E-Fan has since flown across the English Channel and now it's under production as a two-seater for pilot training, with up to one hour of flying power and a 30-minute reserve. By 2019, E-Fan will be a four-seater for general aviation.

Behind the scenes, the European aerospace company is teaming up with Rolls-Royce to develop what could be its electric masterpiece – a design called the E-Thrust, a 90-seat electric commercial aircraft that could fly for up to two hours before needing to recharge.

E-Thrust faces a lot of obstacles, though. Batteries, and their power capacity, are still way behind the idea. Airbus' predicts E-Thrust won't be available for service until around 2050. By that time, the EU expects the aviation industry to have already lowered fuel consumption, emissions and noise from commercial aircrafts by up to 30%. But that doesn't render the E-Thrust any less exciting – since electric motors are more reliable than pistons and jet engines, it could turn flight delays into a rarity.

NASA, however, is working on some technology that's a little more promising. The Sceptor would be a four-seater with special wings containing 18 small electric propellers. It'll begin test flights in 2017 and, if successful, the technology could be incorporated into small commuter aircrafts within a decade.

In the meantime, Airbus' is making its traditional jet aircrafts more fuel efficient, but it's also hoping that battery technology will defy the odds and flourish. If so, we could end up flying in electric commercial aircrafts much sooner than expected.