First e-plane takes flight

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The world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft has taken its inaugural test flight, taking off from the Canadian city of Vancouver and flying for 15 minutes. This aircraft which was designed in 1946 might become the first commercial electric plane. Vancouver-based Harbour Air took its "eBeaver" on a hop and showed the world a way to save fuel on air travel. Harbour Air expects the eBeaver to go into commercial service in 2022. The e-plane – a 62-year-old, six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane retrofitted with a 750hp electric motor – was piloted by Greg McDougall, founder and chief executive of Harbour Air. E-planes have a very limited range compared to ICE-powered models because lithium-ion batteries have less than 5 percent of the energy density of gasoline or jet fuel. On top of fuel efficiency, the company would save millions in maintenance costs because electric motors require “drastically” less upkeep. Fun fact An aircraft takes off or lands every 37 seconds at Chicago O’Hare's International Airport. Auckland to Doha on Qatar Airways is the world's longest flight by distance at 14,525 kilometres.

The world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft has taken its inaugural test flight, taking off from the Canadian city of Vancouver and flying for 15 minutes.

This aircraft which was designed in 1946 might become the first commercial electric plane.

Vancouver-based Harbour Air took its “eBeaver” on a hop and showed the world a way to save fuel on air travel.

Harbour Air expects the eBeaver to go into commercial service in 2022.

The e-plane – a 62-year-old, six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane retrofitted with a 750hp electric motor – was piloted by Greg McDougall, founder and chief executive of Harbour Air.

E-planes have a very limited range compared to ICE-powered models because lithium-ion batteries have less than 5 percent of the energy density of gasoline or jet fuel. On top of fuel efficiency, the company would save millions in maintenance costs because electric motors require “drastically” less upkeep.

Fun Fact

An aircraft takes off or lands every 37 seconds at Chicago O’Hare's International Airport. Auckland to Doha on Qatar Airways is the world's longest flight by distance at 14,525 kilometres.

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