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NASA's Latest X-Plane is Electric

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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