Incredible Electric Plane Crosses A Major Milestone

Designed for commercial use, the Eviation Alice is a small 57-foot-long all-electric aircraft focused on ultra short-haul flights. The aircraft was in the news after it passed a major test called the high-speed taxi rotation test. The next stage in the development of Alice is its first test fight, which is also expected to happen soon. The Eviation Alice team is targeting a range of 440 nautical miles (506 miles), according to the company’s website, though a small disclaimer notes such a range would be without payloads and in ideal conditions. 

The model can carry up to nine passengers and their luggage with reasonable comfort, and other cabin designs (such as for cargo) have also been teased by the company. The plane can also accommodate two pilots. What makes the Eviation Alice different from most of its peers is its rather slick design, which mimics the looks of a traditional aircraft.

Yesterday’s high speed taxi rotation test…nailed it. Up next: First Flight. pic.twitter.com/x5vh16iHuV

— Eviation Aircraft (@EviationAero) September 19, 2022

Like electric cars, the Eviation Alice comes powered by a massive array of lithium-ion batteries located at the belly of the plane. These batteries weigh up to 8,000 pounds and take up a significant amount of weight and space. To keep the weight of the aircraft down, Eviation used carbon composite materials to build it and fly-by-wire technology for controlling the aircraft, according to PopSci. Despite the seemingly advanced stage of development, the fact remains that Eviation Alice is still a couple of years away from its first commercial flight, though the first test flight is likely to happen later this year.