Acclaimed to be the world's largest all-electric plane which took its first successful flight for about 30 minutes. The 'eCaravan' aircraft is a Cessna 208B Caravan plane, which was fitted with a 750-horsepower electric motor made by US-based startup MagniX and modified by aerospace engineering firm AeroTEC.
The aircraft, which is about 37 feet long, typically seats nine passengers. According to a press release from magniX, the plane is the result of a collaboration between engine company magniX and aerospace firm AeroTEC.
The original Cessna Caravan is one of the most widely used middle-mile planes in the world, with more than 2,600 aircraft working in 100 countries.
Operator Harbour Air called the flight a "world first" for the aviation industry after the plane flew for about 15 minutes after taking off from Vancouver, Canada. MagniX CEO Roei Ganzarski said in a statement that the transportation sector -- and the aviation industry in particular -- is "ripe for a massive disruption." He also said that the flight proved that "low-cost, environmentally friendly, commercial electric air travel" could be possible in the "very near future."
