This archive report was first published on 19 November 2019.
On November 17, 2019, the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates witnessed the unveiling of the world's first electric racing aircraft, White Lightning, by Airbus-backed Air Race E.
The aircraft, manufactured by UK-based Condor Aviation, will use an electric motor to achieve flight speeds of around 482 kilometers per hour on a tight five-kilometer circuit, just 10 meters above the ground.
According to Air Race E, the lithium batteries installed under the fuselage of the plane will provide power for five minutes of high-intensity racing and around 10 minutes of reserve flying at reduced power.
As the world's first all-electric airplane competition, Air Race E aims to accelerate the journey towards electric commercial travel, with its inaugural series of international races set to launch in 2020.
Several companies, including US ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc, are working on electric-powered flying cars, amid increasing concerns about the environmental impact of fossil-fuel intensive air travel.
Boeing, a rival of Airbus, has also announced a partnership with automaker Volkswagen's sports car brand, Porsche, to develop a concept electric flying vehicle capable of transporting people in urban environments.
