Hi, what are you looking for?
Solar Community Slammed By Hurricane Ian: “Our Lights Stayed On”
Sexy/Unsexy, Practical/Impractical: Let’s Talk Atmospheric Carbon Drawdown’s Hype Vs Reality
Under The Radar: Little-Known Code Proposal Imperils American Clean Energy
Are California Regulators Waiting To Crush Rooftop Solar Until After The Election?
Michigan Has Potential To Reduce Emissions By Over 94%
Sexy/Unsexy, Practical/Impractical: Let’s Talk Atmospheric Carbon Drawdown’s Hype Vs Reality
Australian Spatial Analytics — Autism to the Rescue
Michigan Has Potential To Reduce Emissions By Over 94%
Anglo American & EDF Renewables Agree To Renewable Energy Partnership In South Africa
In 2021, 40% of the Electricity Produced in the United States Was Derived from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources
Your Rechargeable Batteries Need Lithium. Geothermal Energy Could Soon Help. (Surprise Video)
On the Road to 100% Clean Electricity: 6 Potential Strategies To Break Through Last Few Percent
President William Ruto Sworn In, Reaffirms Kenya’s Commitment To Transition To 100% Clean Energy By 2030
New Lithium StoryMap & the Future of Electrification
Enhanced Geothermal Technology Cracks The 24/7 Energy Code
Battery State of Health — What is It? Why is It Important?
Grecell Portable Power Stations (300W, 1000W, & 2000W) — CleanTechnica Review
Seaweed-Based Battery Powers Confidence in Sustainable Energy Storage
Envisioning the Battery Data Genome, a Central Data Hub for Battery Innovation
CleanTechnica Tested: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station
Want Energy Resilience? Invest Locally In Community Solar, Rooftop Solar, Heat Pumps, EVs
East Bay Customers Support California’s Grid During Extreme Heat Wave Through Innovative Program
NY Governor Hochul Announces Winner of 2022 New York–Israel Smart Energy Innovation Challenge
Biden–Harris Admin Launches $10.5 Billion Investment to Strengthen America’s Electric Grid
Electric Vehicles Don’t Break The Grid, And They Can Help Boost It
Want Energy Resilience? Invest Locally In Community Solar, Rooftop Solar, Heat Pumps, EVs
How Will Future Climate Impact The Design & Performance Of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs)?
Next-Generation Abrams Tank & Stryker To Be Hybrids
U.S. Commercial Buildings Continued To Increase Their Energy Efficiency Through 2018
17 EV Models Have EPA Combined Rating of 100+ MPGe in Model Year 2022
Battery State of Health — What is It? Why is It Important?
Westward Ho! 1500 Miles in My Tesla Model 3 Long Range with 2 Mountain Ebikes: Cost, Supercharging, Tips
Similarities Between Tesla FSD And Cruise, Argo AI, & Waymo You Might Not Have Noticed
3 Self-Driving Vehicle Stories You Probably Missed — From Mobile/Intel, Argo AI, & Waymo
Op-Ed: US Should Be More Transparent About Our Transportation Emissions — Our Health & Climate Depend On It
Westward Ho! 1500 Miles in My Tesla Model 3 Long Range with 2 Mountain Ebikes: Cost, Supercharging, Tips
Grecell Portable Power Stations (300W, 1000W, & 2000W) — CleanTechnica Review
Tesla FSD Beta 10.69 Road Trip Test — Part 1
From Transylvania to Istanbul in a Hyundai Kona Electric
Electric Vehicle Journey To Europe’s Easternmost Point — In Hyundai Kona Electric This Time
France’s BEVs Grow By A Third YoY, Renault Megane Unassailable
UK EV Share Grows, Tesla Model Y Overall Runner Up
Tesla Model Y Is Best Selling Automobile In Switzerland In 2022, Tesla Model 3 is 3rd Best
Norway’s Plugin Growth Flat In September, BEV Share Up
Sweden’s BEVs Take Over Third Of Market
Westward Ho! 1500 Miles in My Tesla Model 3 Long Range with 2 Mountain Ebikes: Cost, Supercharging, Tips
Grecell Portable Power Stations (300W, 1000W, & 2000W) — CleanTechnica Review
Tesla FSD Beta 10.69 Road Trip Test — Part 1
From Transylvania to Istanbul in a Hyundai Kona Electric
Electric Vehicle Journey To Europe’s Easternmost Point — In Hyundai Kona Electric This Time
Mazda MX-30 EV vs. Tesla Model 3 — Ultimate EV Battle Bracket
Exploring XPeng’s Self-Driving Tech Live — 1 Hour+, No Interventions!
2022 Nissan Leaf S Plus — CleanTechnica Review (VIDEO)
Ford F-150 Lightning — CleanTechnica Review
Tesla Q4 Shareholder Conference Call — Watch & Listen Here
Electric aircraft are all the rage, and they have been for several years, but when are we going to see actual commercial electric airplane options for normal people? Soon! Well, sort of soon. The electric aircraft “Alice” from Eviation Aircraft has been getting real orders lately, including from a young airline based in Florida.
There’s one big story about the Eviation Alice electric airplane from this month, but there are also a few from earlier in the year to catch up on. Let’s catch up on these news developments. For a little background first, note that the production version of the Alice was revealed in July of last year, 2021.
Alice electric airplane seating. Image courtesy of Eviation.
Global Crossing Airlines Group, Inc. (aka GlobalX), based out of Miami, has ordered 50 Alice electric airplanes, which are 9-seaters. Reportedly, with these electric planes, GlobalX is opening up new routes in Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.
Alice electric airplane with GlobalX branding flying over Florida. Image courtesy of GlobalX & Eviation.
Naturally, with a 9-seat electric airplane, these won’t be the cheapest flights around, but it’s a start. Remember that Tesla started with the Roadster, flat-screen TVs used to cost a fortune, and new technology starts expensive and needs time to work its way down the market. The one big financial bonus to keep in mind, though: the electric aircraft “costs a fraction to operate per flight hour compared to light jets or high-end turboprops.”
Alice electric aircraft specs. Image courtesy of Eviation.
If you’re not familiar with GlobalX, don’t be embarrassed, it’s only been operating passenger services for about a year, since August 2021. It currently has just seven A320 family aircraft in operation. Those fly routes in the U.S., the Caribbean, and Latin America. The company also plans to start cargo operations in Q4 2022 with fifteen A321 freighter aircraft it’s leasing.
The additional Alice electric aircraft “will enable GlobalX to introduce new, sustainable flight options for growing markets including Miami, Orlando and the Bahamas.” Naturally, the “sustainable flight” pitch will appeal to many people. Flying is one of the biggest guilty pleasures or conveniences for many climate-concerned people, if not their last notable one. That’s probably even more so when going on a fun unnecessary trip to the Bahamas. GlobalX is also considering using the Alice for cargo flights, currently exploring the potential practicality of that.
Alice electric airplane seating and cargo layout for 9-passenger design. Image courtesy of Eviation.
GlobalX’s Alice electric airplanes are supposed to be delivered in 2027.
“Eviation’s Alice aircraft is setting the standard in sustainable aviation, and we plan to offer the aircraft to our cruise line, tour operators, leisure travel providers, and business clients with a need for short-haul charter flights across Florida,” said Ed Wegel, Chair and CEO of GlobalX. “The Alice aircraft will allow us to offer sustainable, regional flights to and from major markets, and is the first step in our initiative to be a zero-carbon emissions airline by 2050. We are proud to be a launch customer for Eviation and lead the charge in bringing carbon-free air travel to our passengers.”
GlobalX is not the first to order the Alice electric aircraft — not even close. In fact, orders for the electric airplane have been in longer than GlobalX has existed. Cape Air ordered the Alice in June 2019, and in April of this year, Cape Air increased that initially modest order to 75 electric airplanes. “Eviation’s all-electric Alice aircraft can accommodate nine passengers and two crew. Cape Air flies more than 400 regional flights a day to nearly 40 cities in the Northeast, Midwest, Montana and the Caribbean . Deploying a fleet of all-electric Alice aircraft will significantly reduce carbon emissions, as well as maintenance and operational costs for the airline, and provide a smoother and quieter flight experience for passengers.”
In August of last year, DHL Express ordered 12 Alice electric planes. “We firmly believe in the emission-free future of logistics,” said John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “That is why we make sure that all investments improve our CO 2 footprint. On our way to environmentally friendly logistics, the electrification of all modes of transport plays a decisive role and contributes significantly to our sustainability goal of zero emissions. DHL Express has been a pioneer in the aviation industry for decades and in Eviation we have found the perfect partner who shares our mission. Together we dare to embark on a new decade of sustainable aviation.”
All of this is not to say that electric flight is a done deal, or that Eviation will be a leader in this arena. “Electric aircraft have arrived, but a lot has to happen to make commercial flights a reality. Can they live up to the hype, and can they reduce aviation emissions? We run the numbers,” economist Paul Callister and mathematician Robert McLachlan wrote for CleanTechnica last October. “Electric aircraft are at an exciting stage and may well find a niche. But they also risk turning into one more means of hypermobility for the rich, at a time when all forms of transport need to reduce in emissions, energy, and resources.”
Eviation Alice electric aircraft flying into the sunset. Image courtesy of Eviation.
Eviation also announced a couple of months ago that it was teaming up with Parker Aerospace, getting 6 technology system packages from the company. “The six technology systems that Parker Aerospace will develop for the Alice aircraft will be produced across all divisions within Parker Aerospace as well as Parker’s Engineered Materials Group including Parker LORD. The work packages include:
Just last week, Eviation also made a notable move by announcing Gregory Davis as its new CEO. He was already President, since May 2021, but now also moves into the CEO role. “Prior to his role at Eviation, Davis served as Vice President of Customer Service and Product Support for Viking Air Limited, a global leader in utility aircraft services and manufacturer of Series 400 and Guardian 400 Twin Otter aircraft. Before this, he served in an engineering role at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, one of the largest privately owned and independent aerospace and defense companies.”
Alice’s executive cabin design. Image courtesy of Eviation.
Perhaps most fun of all, though, in December 2021, Eviation unveiled a new Alice executive cabin design. This more luxurious cabin design cuts some of the seating in exchange for new “executive” features. It becomes a 6-passenger layout instead of a 9-passenger layout but adds:
Orders of this version of the Alice electric aircraft are supposed to be fulfilled in 2026.
Alice’s executive cabin design. Image courtesy of Eviation.
What will the next news about the Eviation Alice be?
Related story: Pure Play Urban Air Mobility Company Stocks Lost Over $16 Billion In 2021
Related story: Electric Aircraft — Coming Soon To Save Us, Or All Hype & Greenwash?
Zach is tryin' to help society help itself one word at a time. He spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as its director, chief editor, and CEO. Zach is recognized globally as an electric vehicle, solar energy, and energy storage expert. He has presented about cleantech at conferences in India, the UAE, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Canada, and Curaçao. Zach has long-term investments in Tesla [TSLA], NIO [NIO], Xpeng [XPEV], Ford [F], ChargePoint [CHPT], Amazon [AMZN], Piedmont Lithium [PLL], Lithium Americas [LAC], Albemarle Corporation [ALB], Nouveau Monde Graphite [NMGRF], Talon Metals [TLOFF], Arclight Clean Transition Corp [ACTC], and Starbucks [SBUX]. But he does not offer (explicitly or implicitly) investment advice of any sort.
#1 most loved electric vehicle, solar energy, and battery news & analysis site in the world. Support our work today!
Advertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of millions of monthly readers.
One RMIer recounts his experience braving Hurricane Ian and why the lights stayed on in his solar-powered sustainable community. By Ryan Foelske My family...
A few weeks ago, Ford’s events kept having unexplained power outages, and there was always a Ford Lightning on hand to save the day....
Babcock Ranch and Punta Gorda both survived Hurricane Ian with little damage, thanks to robust building codes and good planning.
This Tesla Solar Roof and Powerwall stood up to the challenge of Hurricane Ian in Florida last week. And how about those hot new...
Copyright © 2021 CleanTechnica. The content produced by this site is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by and do not necessarily represent the views of CleanTechnica, its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries.