We are seeing rapid progress in the electrification of passenger transport, and there is much talk of the electrification of air transport in future (writes Wayne Ward). The latter of these took a major step forwards recently when the air speed record for electric aircraft was shattered.
The Rolls-Royce badged Spirit of Innovation aircraft raised the record from 213 mph (342 kph) set in 2017 over 3 km to 345 mph in 2021, significantly raising the bar for electric-powered flight, and in the process, becoming the fastest EV ever, eclipsing the record held by Venturi (Voxan’s owner) which previously held the record with a battery-electric streamliner car. The record over 15 km was also broken.