DHL has ordered 12 fully electric Alice eCargo planes from Eviation. The express carrier says that Alice is the world’s leading fully electric aircraft, and is due for delivery in 2024.
It can be flown by a single pilot and will carry 2,600 lbs (1,200 kilos). It will require 30 minutes or less to charge per flight hour and could be charged while loading. It will have a maximum range of up to 440 nautical miles (815 kilometers).
Its electric motors have fewer moving parts than piston and turbine aircraft which will increase reliability and reduce maintenance costs while its operating software constantly monitors flight performance to ensure optimal efficiency.
Executive vice-president for global network operations and aviation for DHL Express, Travis Cobb, described Alice as: “A very important step in our decarbonization journey and a step forward for the aviation industry as a whole.”
The plane can be configured for cargo or passengers and is on track for its first flight later this year.