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'Alice,' the First All-Electric Passenger Plane Takes Its First Flight Manufacturer Eviation Aircraft hopes to get electric aircrafts to customers by 2027.

By Sam Silverman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images

The first-ever all-electric passenger airplane successfully took flight on Tuesday morning, marking a historic moment in aviation and sustainability.

Manufactured by Arlington-based company Eviation Aircraft, the zero-emission plane named "Alice," took off from Grant County International Airport in Washington for an eight-minute maiden voyage. The plane, which seats nine, will have the ability to travel for one hour or about 250 nautical miles, according to CNN Business.

The plane operates under battery technology, which makes the aircraft significantly slower than those with traditional engines. The Alice only allows for a max cruise speed of 250 nautical miles, while the average commercial airline travels around 550 and 600 miles per hour, per Flying Mag. However, in a statement to Entrepreneur, an Eviation spokesperson said, "150-250 nautical miles is sufficient for most trips today," and they are working on improving their batteries.

"The advantage of the Alice is that the aircraft and propulsion are future proof – they are ready to utilize the best that batteries will have to offer as time progresses," the spokesperson said. "Eviation's customers have been briefed on and are aligned with the 250 nm VFR range."

While it has limitations, Alice's first flight marks a major milestone for eco-friendly travel.

"This is history," President and CEO of Eviation Aircraft, Gregory Davis, told CNN Business." We have not seen the propulsion technology change on the aircraft since we went from the piston engine to the turbine engine. It was the 1950s that was the last time you saw an entirely new technology like this come together."

According to Davis, Eviation is working on an FAA-certified aircraft and is aiming to get their eclectic planes to customers by 2027.

Sam Silverman

Content Strategy Editor

Sam Silverman is a content strategy editor at Entrepreneur Media. She specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), and her work can be found in The US Sun, Nicki Swift, In Touch Weekly, Life & Style and Health. She writes for our news team with a focus on investigating scandals. Her coverage and expertise span from business news, entrepreneurship, technology, and true crime, to the latest in entertainment and TV news. Sam is a graduate of Lehigh University and currently resides in NYC. 

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