Meet Alia CX300, world's first electric plane that flew with passengers for first time, travelled 130 kms in just Rs..., can fly up to...
In a major breakthrough for air travel, a fully electric aircraft called the Alia CX300 has flown with passengers for the very first time. The flight was carried out by Beta Technologies, a company based in Vermont, USA. According to Fox News, the plane flew from East Hampton to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport earlier this month. It had four people on board and covered a distance of about 130 kilometres in just over 30 minutes.
What's even more impressive is the cost, the flight used only around Rs. 694 (USD 8) worth of electricity. In comparison, a helicopter doing the same trip would spend over Rs. 13,000 (USD 160) just on fuel.
'This is a 100 per cent electric airplane,' said Kyle Clark, the CEO and founder of Beta Technologies. 'It flew passengers from East Hampton to JFK. It was a first for New York's Port Authority, and we did it in about 35 minutes.'
He added, 'Charging the plane and flying here cost only USD 8. Of course, we still have to pay for the pilot and the aircraft, but overall, it's much cheaper.'
Another plus: the flight was quiet. Without loud engines or propellers, passengers could actually talk to each other during the ride, something that's not possible on most traditional aircraft.
Beta Technologies, founded in 2017, recently raised over Rs. 2,600 crore (USD 318 million) to help build, test, and launch its electric aircraft. The CX300 is expected to get final approval from U.S. aviation authorities (FAA) by the end of this year.
On a full charge, the plane can fly up to 463 kilometres, making it perfect for short trips between cities. Many transportation companies are already exploring such electric aircraft, especially those that can take off and land vertically, to help avoid traffic and cut down on pollution.
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