What stops electric planes from taking off?

Aeroplanes are one of the major sources of carbon emission, they leave huge carbon footprint. A report published in the MIT Technology review attributes the limitation of batteries as the reason behind the low productivity of electric planes. However, the article asserts that due to unavailability of any such option presently, the future of electric planes depends on the future of progress in battery technology. The report cites Jayant Mukhopadhaya, a transportation analyst at the International Council on Clean Transportation, who says that a battery-powered plane charged with renewable energy could produce nearly 90% less emissions than today’s jet fuel planes. However, an analysis of the design using estimates for current battery densities and plane weight restrictions, claims that 19-seat battery-powered aircraft would have a maximum cruise range of about 260 km, significantly less than the company’s claim of 400 km.