US-based electric aircraft developer and manufacturer Eviation Aircraft has unveiled the production design for its all-electric Alice aircraft which the company expects will fly its first flight later this year.
Based in Washington State, Eviation has been working towards the launch of its Alice all-electric aircraft for several years now. A nine-passenger, two-crew member aircraft, Alice produces no carbon emissions while in flight and significantly reduces noise as well as costs, which are a fraction of what current planes cost per flight hour.
With a maximum range of 440-nautical-miles (NM) and maximum cruising speed of 220-knots, the launch of Alice’s production configuration puts the plane on track towards its certification and eventual entry into service, which is expected to be as soon as 2024.
“Sharing our production Alice design is a special day for Eviation and our partners. It also represents a final step in our iterative journey toward Alice’s first flight,” said Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohay.
“Electric aviation will continue to open up new possibilities for affordable, sustainable regional travel around the world. Alice is poised to turn that possibility into reality soon.”
Alice is powered by two magni650 electric prolusion units from magniX – another Washington State-based aviation, but one which was originally founded on the Gold Coast – which has already had its magni650 engines flight-tested in other aircraft, making it the only flight proven electric propulsion system available at the scale of Alice.
The aircraft’s advanced fly-by-wire – a term for fully electric control systems – was made by American technology company Honeywell, while the single-volume, high-energy density battery system onboard is made from currently available battery cells and is not yet reliant on future battery technology advancements.
As such, based as it is on proven technologies, Alice is a seamless step forward for pilots while nevertheless creating what Eviation hopes will be a “superior passenger flying experience”, one which will accelerate the aircraft’s path to market.
“Alice is a beautiful aircraft and represents the future of flying, plain and simple,” said Eviation Executive Chairman Roei Ganzarski.
“Add in zero emissions, less noise, and significantly lower operating costs, and communities will be connected like never before starting sooner than you think.”
Eviation’s Aircraft is currently expected to be first available in the United States and European Union markets first, but in 2019 Eviation nevertheless referred to the “process of gaining certification in Australia”. However, Australian certification will likely be easier to acquire once Alice has already gained certification in major overseas markets.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.