THE WORLD'S FIRST COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC PLANE

EV Channels Review

Robert Llewellyn experiences the Pipistrel Alpha Electro, the world's first certified commercial electric aircraft. The review highlights the aircraft's surprisingly powerful acceleration and climb rate, comparable to its piston-powered counterparts. A key advantage noted is the significantly reduced running cost, being one-tenth that of a petrol plane, despite an identical purchase price of €202,000. The near-silent operation is a major plus, making circuits possible at lower altitudes. However, the limited range (around 80-120 miles depending on wind) and the need for specialized charging infrastructure at airfields are significant drawbacks, reminiscent of early electric car adoption. The battery capacity is comparable to an original Nissan Leaf, with charging taking about an hour. Despite the gusty conditions during the flight, the overall impression is one of impressed astonishment at this leap into electric aviation.