Cape Air becomes first airline to order ‘Alice’ all-electric plane
A US commuter airlines has become the first to place an order for electric powered planes from Israel-based developer Eviation.
Cape Air, which flies on short routes such as New York to Nantucket and Boston to Martha’s Vineyard, has agreed to buy a ‘double-digit’ number of the nine-seat electric planes, called Alice.
The airline, headquartered in Massachusetts, currently operates turbo-props.
Speaking at the Paris Air Show, Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohay said other airlines, including major carriers such as United Continental and JetBlue, are prospective customers for the electric planes, which has a range of 650 miles.
Eviation is showcasing a prototype at the air show where Bar-Yohay said he was ‘talking to everyone’. It is planning a first flight later this year in the US, followed by the assembly of more planes in Arizona and Washington state and expects to certification around 2021.
"We’re a bit ahead of the pack but I have no doubt others are coming," Bar-Yohay said.
"The hurdles aren’t just about getting the plane out the door, but everything else that goes with them," he said. "We need an environment to support the plane and trained engineers and mechanics."
The company is targeting ‘middle mile’ commutes, such as San Jose to San Diego.
At $200 per flight, the Alice’s operating costs are lower than for a turboprop, which burns around $1000 of fuel, but with a cruising speed of 276 miles per hour it is slower than the traditional turboprop aircraft generally used on such routes.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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