
Aviation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, commercial flights produce about 805 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, which is about 2% of all US emissions and 3.5% of global aviation emissions. The environmental fallout of air travel is an urgent issue because there are few technology-based solutions for emissions from aircraft engines, and the demand for flying is increasing.
Electric aircraft face a different issue than ground EVs – their size. Heavier and larger electric motors mean that they are not simply interchangeable with fossil fuel models, as weight and speed are important aspects of aviation efficiency. Plus, there’s practicality to consider- you certainly can’t have a battery-powered plane that doesn’t also leave room for people or cargo.
Although it may seem like an unattainable dream, there are actually companies trying to bring electric airplanes to market. And not only that, but they want them to be viable for daily use! One such company is Eviation, and we’ve been covering its development since 2017. The company recently proved that its design can fly and live in the real world — not just on paper or as a simulation. If you are interested in learning more about this incredible development, I recommend reading the article by my colleague Tina.
In a recent press release, Eviation has exciting news about another sale of its electric Alice plane, but first, let’s look at the long road the company took to get here.
Getting From There to Here
In our 2018 coverage, the company revealed key details of its strategy and technology.
According to the company’s CEO, the average hourly cost of flying a business jet is $3,000, but an electric airplane can reduce that by 90%. In addition, because an electric aircraft is 92-95% more efficient than any kerosene counterpart and must follow the same weight restrictions during landing. Although it may seem complicated, all modern airplanes are designed so that they can take off and land with the same weight in case of an emergency. So the “loss of weight” during a flight does not pose much of a challenge for designers.
The company stated that it is possible to have a flight with a 400Wh / kg battery. They also say that batteries made today have enough energy density to work perfectly. For Alice, the 900kWh battery pack makes up 65% of the aircraft’s weight. The electric motors produce 3 x 260kW of total power. This allows Alice to have a 30,000ft (9144m) service ceiling and a landing speed of 100 knots.
In June 2019, Eviation unveiled its electric airplane in Paris and reportedly secured Cape Air as its first buyer. By 2021, the company has completed the design process and is preparing for takeoff; however, the unplanned delay pushed back the original launch date of 2021.
Eviation landed DHL as a customer last year, and together they plan to build the world’s first electric air freight network. 12 Alice aircraft will be used in DHL’s United States operations, with more expected to join the fleet by 2024. This zero emissions cargo aircraft is part of DHL Express’ commitment to sustainability.
But these first customers arrived before the plane took a test flight. That happened at the end of last month, with a flight up to 3,500 feet. You can learn more about that flight and get links to all the information above in my last article on Eviation’s Alice here.
A New Buyer
A few days ago, the company announced that Germany-based EVIA AERO signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 25 all-electric commuter Alice planes. The airline intends to use Alice as its primary aircraft for point-to-point, long-haul regional travel within Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, and the Netherlands.
“As an early adopter of all-electric air travel and sustainable technologies, EVIA AERO shares Eviation’s dedication to social responsibility,” said Loic Questiaux, Sales Director, EMEA at Eviation. “Eviation’s Alice promises to revolutionize air travel, across Europe. Not only green and clean, but elegantly designed, and providing a smooth, quiet flight experience, Alice will offer passengers in EVIA AERO a new way to fly.
EVIA AERO is a new market entrant focused on developing the electric aviation ecosystem. This includes the generation of electricity to support flight operations through regional photovoltaic power plants that connect to an energy framework intended for the widespread deployment of electric aircraft. The goal is to make air travel more scalable, sustainable and economically viable with less damage to infrastructure and impact carbon footprint to support the resumption of less frequent routes.
“With Eviation, a pioneer in electric flight, we will introduce a fleet of zero-emission aircraft that will change the way we experience travel in the European region,” said Florian Kruse, Founder and CEO of EVIA AERO. “We are strongly committed to the holistic transformation of the aviation industry by implementing a complete cycle of local energy generation, storage, and flight operations.”
This Method Will Change the Industry
I wrote this in the previous article, but I think it is worth mentioning again because the last quote of the EVIA AERO executive confirms something I said. Alice provided a significant change for air travel by allowing the cost per passenger to be lower than buying multiple tickets on a large airline. This opens up opportunities for people to choose smaller planes instead of sharing a plane with people who may not be going to the same final destination.
The first and most beneficial benefit of flying with a family on a private plane for the price of a commercial flight is that it will be more convenient and less stressful. Instead of being accused of being treated like livestock or terrorist bait, you may instead receive similar treatment as a passenger in a limousine. Or, at least it feels like something closer to an Uber ride when riding.
The use of these aircraft will not only make small town and rural trips more common, but also better for the environment. With fewer air miles being used to get people where they need or want to go, it will start to see flights using routes not served by major airlines. That’s exactly what EVIA plans to do, so I must be right about that point.
There are several other advantages, including the environment, but if the greener option is the more pleasant option for travelers, it will eventually become a no-brainer. It is hoped that the major airlines will know this instead of going to Washington and other governments again for a bailout.
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