Li-ion batteries- on 787, off 350

BBC News - Airbus A350 to avoid Boeing 787-style lithium-ion batteries: "Airbus says it will not use lithium-ion batteries in its forthcoming A350 plane because of problems that have grounded rival Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

The European planemaker said it would use traditional nickel-cadmium batteries instead, as already used in the A380 and other models.

Investigations are continuing after battery problems came to light on 787s operated by Japan's top two airlines.

Airbus said they remained "unexplained to the best of our knowledge".

The firm said it did not expect any further delays to the launch of the A350. The maiden flight is due to take place later this year, with the first passenger flight expected in the second half of 2014.

In a statement, Airbus said it was "confident" that the lithium-ion battery that it had been developing with French battery-maker Saft was "robust and safe"."

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