A 25,000 pound (11,340 kilogram) aircraft recently took off on its maiden flight, running entirely on battery power that used up just $5 worth of electricity.
Heart Aerospace announced the successful first flight of the company’s X1 aircraft, which is equipped with four electric motors that draw their energy from onboard batteries. The flight was designed to test the electric propulsion system, with Heart Aerospace hoping to use its prototype aircraft to develop a 30-seat hybrid model designed to service regional airports.
Cheap flight
The battery-electric aircraft took off from Plattsburgh International Airport in Upstate New York on August 12 and flew for 27 minutes. It reached an altitude of 1,100 feet, consuming more than a megawatt of power in the process.
With a 106-foot wingspan, X1 became the largest battery-electric plane ever flown. The entire flight, including takeoff, maneuvering, and landing, used up approximately $5 worth of electricity, according to a statement from Heart Aerospace.
“With the first flight of X1, Heart Aerospace has demonstrated electric flight at the scale of a commercial airliner,” said Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. “Electric commercial aircraft have the potential to fundamentally reshape airline economics and, ultimately, lower the cost of air travel for passengers.”
The future of regional air travel?
The recent test of the battery-powered plane comes at a time when global prices for jet fuel have seen a significant surge due to the U.S. war with Iran. The cost of jet fuel has increased from about $2.50 per gallon on average before the war began to an average of $3.50 per gallon earlier this month.
The recent surge has forced airlines to raise ticket prices and add fuel subcharges, and this is where Heart Aerospace hopes its electric propulsion system can come in, offering “more affordable, frequent, and cleaner air service to and from airports closer to home,” Forslund said.
X1 is a full-scale prototype that is designed to pave the way for the ES-30, a conventional, fixed-wing hybrid-electric aircraft for commercial use. The company is hoping ES-30 can begin operations by 2031, aiming to reduce aircraft operating costs by more than 40% compared to regular planes.
