NASA has announced its new experimental electric plane will be called the X-57 Maxwell in recognition of Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell.
The plane features a long, skinny wing embedded with 14 electric motors – 12 on the leading edge for take offs and landings, and one larger motor on each wing tip for use while at cruise altitude.
NASA’s aeronautical engineers hope to validate the idea that distributing electric power across a number of motors integrated with an aircraft in this way will result in a five-times reduction in the energy required for a private plane to cruise at 280 km/h.
And because 'Maxwell' will be powered only by batteries, it should eliminate carbon emissions and demonstrate how demand would shrink for lead-based aviation fuel still in use by general aviation.
Energy efficiency at cruise altitude using X-57 technology could also benefit travelers by reducing flight times, fuel usage, as well as reducing overall operational costs for small aircraft by as much as 40%. Typically, to get the best fuel efficiency an airplane has to fly slower than it is able. Electric propulsion essentially eliminates the penalty for cruising at higher speeds.
Electric motors are also quieter than conventional piston engines. The X-57’s electric propulsion technology is expected to significantly decrease aircraft noise, making it less annoying to the public.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said as many as five larger transport-scale X-planes are planned as part of the initiative with goals of demonstrating advanced technologies to reduce fuel use, emissions and noise.
“With the return of piloted X-planes to NASA’s research capabilities – which is a key part of our 10-year-long New Aviation Horizons initiative – the general aviation-sized X-57 will take the first step in opening a new era of aviation,” he said.
The X-57 Maxwell will be built by NASA’s Scalable Convergent Electric Propulsion Technology Operations Research project by modifying a recently procured, Italian-designed Tecnam P2006T twin-engine light aircraft.
[Artist's impression of the X-57 Maxwell shows its specially designed wing and 14 electric motors. Image: NASA Langley/Advanced Concepts Lab]
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