Eviation Aircraft’s Alice, the world’s first all-electric passenger 9-seat plane, successfully completed the first flight in Washington, reaching 3,500ft.
source/image: Eviation Aircraft Inc.
Alice lifted off at 7:10 a.m. from Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet. This trailblazing flight of the technology demonstrator provided Eviation with invaluable data to further optimize the aircraft for commercial production.
With 260 Wh/kg cells, the 900 kWh battery capacity is initially estimated to give the design a range of 540–650 nmi (1,000–1,200 km) at 240 knots and 3,048 m.This is anticipated to increase as battery technology improves.
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The batteries have been tested to more than 1,000 cycles, equivalent to 3,000 flight hours, and will then require replacement at a cost of $250,000 – half of the direct operating cost, similar to a piston engine overhaul.Eviation unveiled the updated configuration with a T-tail and two 850 hp (634 kW) Magni650 electric powerplants on each side of the aft fuselage, aiming for a first flight the same year.//wikipedia
