Pioneering electric plane needs $200m for final push

A passenger plane in the running to become the aviation industry’s first fully commercial battery-powered model needs about $200m to bring it to market, according to developer Eviation Aircraft. The Israeli company plans to fly a prototype of the “Alice” design at the Paris Air Show in June and to begin building the first production version in the next 2 1/2 years, CEO Omer Bar-Yohay said. It should sell for $3 to $5m. While the plane is one of several electric models at the design stage, its nine-passenger capacity and 650-mile range from a single charge could give it an edge in the commuter market currently served by a variety of light aircraft. Many other proposed craft are smaller, reflecting the limiting weight of batteries and fuel cells, while full-size airliners may take years to develop. Running costs for the Alice will be about $200 per flight hour versus $1,000 for a turboprop, presenting a “compelling business case,” Bar-Yohay said, adding that it already has “a few hard commitments” from would-be operators. Existing funds should take the project to the prototype stage “and a bit further,” but won’t by themselves bankroll manufacturing, he said. The Alice will be slower than some conventional craft, with a cruising speed of 240 knots (276 miles per hour), half the pace of modern business jets but not far short of some turboprop models. <br/>