Budget airline, EasyJet, is backing plans to develop passenger aeroplanes powered by electricity rather than conventional engines.

It believes the planes, which will have a range of 335 miles, could be flying on its short haul routes within 10-20 years, as reported by the BBC . This means the company could cover popular routes such as London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Glasgow and Edinburgh using electric planes. It's hoped that the new planes will carry up to 220 passengers.

A prototype is being developed by Wright Electric in the US, which has already successfully built a two-seater battery-powered plane. The company will need to invent new lightweight batteries to make its technology work.

The new planes will help to reduce the company's impact on the environment, with a big cut in fuel and emissions, and will also be much quieter than conventional aircraft.

EasyJet says it supports a more sustainable aviation industry. Just as car companies have increased their use of electricity, the company sees electricity as the next logical step for aviation.