Electric Planes Aim to Soar High for Cleaner Aviation

http://www.industryweek.com/global-economy/electric-planes-aim-soar-high-cleaner-aviation

Planes alone are responsible for 13% of the worlds CO2 output.  This percentage could decrease eventually no 0 with the new Taurus planes by the company Pipistrel Pioneering.  These electric planes leave no emissions at all and would be a great replacement for the air industry in the future.  The 110,000 euro ($120,914) price tag is made worth while with the plane’s extremely low maintenance cost: at 70 cents an hour, the Taurus is 10 times cheaper to run than traditional twin-seater planes.  These big-winged 'gliders' only have 3 buttons to operate: Up, down, and full power.  The planes can reach up to an altitude of 6,562 feet, after which the engine is retracted and the Taurus glides across the sky as a sailplane.  The hardest and most crucial part of this new technology is the battery.  The battery has to be light enough to fly, but strong enough to power a plane and not catch fire.  The challenge of making something lighter, yet stronger at the same time is the pinnacle question of engineering.  

The Taurus also has a long way before making its way into the heavy aircraft commercial industry.  These planes are not as resistant to weather as the ones used now.  The plane is too light and is pushed around too easy.  They also only have two-seaters that fly, and are working on a four-seater.  Both of these problems could be fixed by a bigger and heavier plane, but that would take a ginormous battery.  These planes are not expected to reach commercial markets for about 50 years because of these problems.  Do you think the future of the air industry starts with the Taurus or not?