Norway to have commercial electric planes by 2030

'Alice' Israel's e-plane. (Source: Financial Times 17.06.19)

Norway’s northern most region is well suited for short-haul electric planes as there are 16 airports within a radius of 350 kilometres. A report launched by Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority says that battery operated planes will be available before 2030 and well suited to this network of airports within the Arctic Circle. 

The world is facing a climate crisis and Norway has been a leader in reducing fossil fuel transport emissions by encouraging the uptake of electric cars. Now it is focusing on air transport and plans to be the driving force and arena for the development, testing and early implementation of electrified aircraft. Norway has an abundance of renewable electricity to charge the planes' batteries.

The goals are to have a commercial fleet of domestic electric planes operating by 2030 and to have all domestic civil aircraft electrified by 2040. 

Read more: 

- Electric aviation ready for take-off in Norway by 2030, report says. The Independent Barents Observer, March 8, 2020. 

- Norwegian authorities aim for electric aircraft debut by 2030. Flight Global News, March 9, 2020, 

- Commercial electric planes set to take-off in Norway by 2030. The Driven, March 13, 2020.

World’s first all-electric commercial aircraft takes flight in Canada

Source: MIT Technology Review

The world’s first electric commercial aircraft, a seaplane, flew for a 15 minute test flight in Vancouver, Canada recently. It is owned by Harbour Air which ferries half a million passengers a year between Vancouver, Whistler ski resort and nearby islands and coastal resorts.

Harbour Air worked alongside the Australian engineering firm MagniX (which makes high-power-density electric motors for aircraft) to retrofit the seaplane with a 750 hp electric motor. The CEO of Harbour Air, Greg McDougall, says they hope to electrify their entire fleet of more than 40 seaplanes. Mr McDougall predicts the company will save millions in maintenance costs because electric motors require “drastically” less in upkeep.

Read more:
- World’s first fully electric commercial aircraft takes flight in Canada. The Guardian, December 11, 2019.
- A fully electric aircraft has just made its first commercial flight. MIT Technology Review, December 11, 2019.

Australia’s MagniX propulsion system chosen for Eviation’s electric aircraft

Eviation Alice (Source: Renew Economy.

Australian-based electric flight propulsion tech innovator MagniX has been selected by fellow flight innovator Eviation to provide propulsion units for its 9-seater electric plane – to be known as Alice.

For both Eviation and MagniX, the focus is on medium-haul routes, ideal for regional flights. The Alice aircraft, which will begin testing later this year and will be able to handle distances of up to 1,000km on a single charge.

That range would enable the Alice to serve many existing air routes and make new connections via smaller, underserved airports. The Alice will have three pusher propellers – one behind its “V” tail and one each at the wingtips.

Read more: Australia’s magniX chosen to power Eviation electric aircraft. The Driven, April 22, 2019.