NASA unveils its first electric airplane : X-57 Maxwell

NASA unveils its first electric airplane : X-57 Maxwell

 

NASA has unveiled its first all-electric aircraft amid efforts by the aviation industry to cut emissions of carbon dioxide from planes to tackle climate change.

The US space agency showcased the X-57 Maxwell in California.

It has been developing the small craft since 2015.

Based on a four-seater plane, the X-57 has seven propellers on each wing.

The propellers are run by electric motors powered solely by small lithium-ion batteries developed by NASA.