Press Small electric planes are already flying, but more research is needed to make the technology available for commercial flight. The challenge for passenger planes is creating electric batteries which are energy dense, yet light enough to be carried onboard. In the meantime, hybrid-electric planes, which use both electric power and liquid fuel, offer a viable solution.
While fully electric commercial aircraft are still some way off, hybrid-electric aircraft, which pairs electrification with traditional jet fuel, are currently being prototyped by some of the biggest players in the aerospace industry.
Source: When will commercial electric aircraft become a reality? : Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders
