‘Alice,’ the world’s first all-electric passenger plane, is about to take off. The plane was engine tested last week at Arlington Municipal Airport, just north of Seattle, by the Israeli company Eviation.
Alice’s first flight is just weeks away, according to Eviation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Omer Bar-Yohay.
The nine passenger plane can fly for an hour after 30 minutes of charging, reaching roughly 440 nautical miles using battery technology similar to that of an electric car or a cell phone.
It can cruise at a maximum speed of 250 knots (287 miles/461.8 kilometers per hour), compared to 588 miles (946.2 kilometers per hour) for a Boeing 737.
Electric planes with a capacity of 20 to 40 passengers might be a reality in seven to ten years, according to Eviation, which concentrates solely on electric air travel.
The Alice prototype was debuted in 2019 and has been subjected to low-speed taxi testing since December. In the next weeks, it will conduct a high-speed taxi test.
The plane is sent down the runway at different speeds to test its power and let ground staff to monitor operations such as steering, braking, and anti-skid systems.
The Alice was supposed to fly before 2022, but testing was hampered by poor weather in the Pacific Northwest at the end of last year.
Variants of the Alice
Eviation created three prototypes: a commuter, executive, and cargo model.
The commuter variant being tested can hold nine passengers and two pilots, as well as 850 pounds of goods. The executive version has six passenger seats for a more roomy and pleasant ride, while the cargo version has a cargo capacity of 450 cubic feet.
According to the aircraft manufacturer, all of this is possible while decreasing commercial jet maintenance and operating costs by up to 70%.
To read our blog on “Sony’s electric vehicle can be driven from anywhere in the world,” click here.
