Several companies are currently in the race to develop the world’s first fully electric commercial airplane. Here are some of the key players leading the charge:
### 1. **Eviation Aircraft**
- **Alice**: Eviation, an Israeli-based company, is developing an electric aircraft called **Alice**, which is designed for short-haul regional flights. Alice aims to carry 9 passengers with a range of about 500 miles on a single charge. Alice completed its maiden test flight in 2022 and is expected to be one of the first all-electric planes to enter commercial service by the mid-2020s.
### 2. **Rolls-Royce**
- **ACCEL Project**: Rolls-Royce, a major player in the aerospace industry, is developing electric propulsion systems and has been working on the **ACCEL (Accelerating the Electrification of Flight)** project. Their aircraft, **Spirit of Innovation**, set speed records for electric aircraft in 2021 and is part of their broader effort to develop electric aviation technology for commercial use.
### 3. **Airbus**
- **ZEROe Project**: While not purely electric, Airbus is working on **ZEROe**, a series of hybrid-hydrogen aircraft that could be a step toward electric propulsion. Airbus has committed to developing fully carbon-neutral aircraft by 2035 and is exploring various electric and hydrogen-powered designs to achieve this.
### 4. **Vertical Aerospace**
- **VA-X4**: Vertical Aerospace, a UK-based company, is developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which are designed for urban air mobility. Their **VA-X4** is a fully electric aircraft capable of carrying four passengers. Though it is aimed more at urban transport, it's part of the broader push toward electric aviation.
### 5. **MagniX**
- **Partnerships with multiple aircraft manufacturers**: MagniX, a leading provider of electric motors for aircraft, has partnered with various companies to retrofit existing planes with electric engines. For example, they’ve worked with Harbour Air, a Canadian seaplane operator, to convert seaplanes into all-electric aircraft. MagniX is a key player in the development of electric propulsion systems for commercial aviation.
### 6. **Heart Aerospace**
- **ES-30**: Heart Aerospace, a Swedish company, is developing the **ES-30**, a 30-seat electric regional aircraft with an estimated range of 250 miles. The company has received orders from major airlines like United Airlines and Mesa Airlines and aims to have the aircraft ready for commercial service by the late 2020s.
### 7. **Lilium**
- **Lilium Jet**: Lilium is a German company developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) jet for regional transportation. Though it’s aimed at urban mobility and short-distance regional flights, it is fully electric and part of the broader push toward electric aviation.
### 8. **Joby Aviation**
- **Joby eVTOL**: Another player in the eVTOL space, Joby Aviation is developing electric aircraft for air taxi services. While their focus is on urban air mobility, the technology could pave the way for future electric planes used for longer distances.
### 9. **Bye Aerospace**
- **eFlyer**: Bye Aerospace is developing a series of fully electric aircraft called **eFlyer** for the general aviation market, including a 2-seat **eFlyer 2** and a larger **eFlyer 4**. These planes are designed for training, personal, and regional air transport and are expected to be among the first electric planes to enter service.
### Conclusion:
Eviation's **Alice**, Bye Aerospace's **eFlyer**, and Heart Aerospace’s **ES-30** are among the most advanced projects and could be some of the first fully electric airplanes to enter commercial service. Additionally, companies like Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and MagniX are making significant advancements in electric propulsion systems that could power future generations of electric aircraft.
The first electric airplanes will likely be used for **short-haul regional flights** and urban air mobility before the technology matures for longer-range commercial flights.
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