Photo: Eviation
In only a couple of years, the first all-electric commuter plane could become a common sight. Eviation, the Washington-based company that intends to revolutionize air transportation, just got one step closer to launching its electric aircraft on the market.
The global health crisis that began last year put a stop to many new projects that were ready to move to the next stage. Some of them never recovered, others managed to get back on track, like Eviation’s electric commuter plane, known as Alice. After a prototype and a static model were introduced in the last few years, the manufacturer now unveiled Alice’s production configuration.
After having integrated customer feedback and testing data, the optimized version of Alice is ready to conduct its first flight this year. One of the things that Eviation underlined from the beginning was that Alice is meant to be a realistic product that could become operational as soon as possible, instead of relying on “futuristic technology” that is still being developed.
That means 2 magni650 electric propulsion units from magnix, which have already been flight-tested in other aircraft, and a single-volume, high-energy density Alice battery system that is based on currently available battery cells. A Honeywell advanced fly-by-wire system completes the core technology of this 9-passenger plus 2-crew member aircraft. In terms of build, innovative components from 11 countries were used to put together this elegant-looking electric plane.
Flying at a cruise speed of 220 knots, with a 440-nautical mile range and a 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) payload, this alternative passenger aircraft is designed to be ideal for short distance regular flights, with zero-emissions. It also has the added benefit of lower noise and vibration levels, which would make the flight more enjoyable for those who have to commute frequently. Plus, the manufacturer claims that its electric aircraft comes with much lower costs, compared to standard planes.
What’s next ifor Alice? With its first flight set for later this year, it’s on track to becoming certified by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Once that’s happens, it could start operating as soon as 2024, in the U.S. and Europe.
After having integrated customer feedback and testing data, the optimized version of Alice is ready to conduct its first flight this year. One of the things that Eviation underlined from the beginning was that Alice is meant to be a realistic product that could become operational as soon as possible, instead of relying on “futuristic technology” that is still being developed.
That means 2 magni650 electric propulsion units from magnix, which have already been flight-tested in other aircraft, and a single-volume, high-energy density Alice battery system that is based on currently available battery cells. A Honeywell advanced fly-by-wire system completes the core technology of this 9-passenger plus 2-crew member aircraft. In terms of build, innovative components from 11 countries were used to put together this elegant-looking electric plane.
Flying at a cruise speed of 220 knots, with a 440-nautical mile range and a 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) payload, this alternative passenger aircraft is designed to be ideal for short distance regular flights, with zero-emissions. It also has the added benefit of lower noise and vibration levels, which would make the flight more enjoyable for those who have to commute frequently. Plus, the manufacturer claims that its electric aircraft comes with much lower costs, compared to standard planes.
What’s next ifor Alice? With its first flight set for later this year, it’s on track to becoming certified by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Once that’s happens, it could start operating as soon as 2024, in the U.S. and Europe.
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