Eviation Alice

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Alice
Eviation Alice aircraft July 2021 configuration.jpg
The configuration unveiled in July 2021 features twin aft-mounted motors, a T-tail and a tricycle landing gear.
Role Electric aircraft
National origin Israel
Manufacturer
First flight planned 2021[1]
Introduction planned 2023[1]
Status Under development

The Eviation Alice is a projected electric aircraft designed to accommodate nine passengers and two crew. Currently under development, its construction incorporates 95% composite material, it is powered by two electric motors, and it has a T-tail.

Development[]

The prototype at the June 2019 Paris Air Show featured a single pusher propeller and twin wingtip motors, a V-tail, and a taildragger landing gear

Eviation was founded in 2015 by Omer Bar-Yohay, Omri Regev and Aviv Tzidon.[2] Risk-sharing partnerships have enabled work to go ahead.[3]

In February 2018, a 650 lb (290 kg) scale model UAV was flown to validate the aerodynamics and flight controls.[3] was selected to supply pouch lithium polymer batteries to power the full-scale prototype.[3] Work on the power system and drive train was begun.[3][4] Eviation teamed up with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) to launch a research and development program in the spring of 2019 at ERAU’s Prescott, Arizona campus.[5] The program would focus on performance analysis, validation and testing, along with preliminary design and sub-scale testing of future electric propulsion and airframe design concepts.[5]

By early 2019, Eviation had secured $200 million of investment to cover certification and production while the first prototype was assembled in Vannes, northwest France.[6] In April 2019, Eviation selected MagniX Magni250s 375 shp (280 kW) electric motors turning at 1,900 rpm as an alternative power option to Siemens 260 kW motors.[7]

At the June 2019 Paris Air Show, a full-size static Alice was exhibited.[8] The first airline customer was announced: Hyannis, Massachusetts-based Cape Air.[9] Cape Air ordered 92 aircraft, priced at $4 million each.[10] MagniX investor Clermont Group from Singapore took a 70% stake in Eviation Aircraft in August 2019.[11] By October 2019, over 150 Alice aircraft had been ordered by two American companies.[12] Further investment of $500 million was still needed to begin serial production.[12]

On 22 January 2020, a fire broke out and the prototype was destroyed.[13][14] No one was injured.[15] The fire broke out in an under-floor battery compartment located in the “operator/passenger area”.[16] On 18 May 2020, GKN Aerospace announced their partnership with Eviation on the design and manufacture of the wing, empennage and electrical wiring interconnection system of subsequent Alice airframes.[17] By December 2020, Eviation expected to fly a modified Alice design in 2021, with the wing-tip motors relocated, before certification in the second half of 2023.[1]

In July 2021, Eviation unveiled the updated configuration with a T-tail and two 850 hp (634 kW) Magni650 electric powerplants on each side of the aft fuselage, aiming for a first flight the same year.[18] It should cruise at 220 kn (407 km/h, down from 240 kn), have 440 nmi range, 100 nmi (185 km) less than previously, be powered by an 820 kWh lithium-ion battery weighing 3,720kg (8,200lb), down from a 920 kWh battery weighing 3,600 kg, would have a 6,350 kg maximum take-off weight, down from 6,668 kg, an altitude ceiling of 32,000 ft and a maximum payload of 1,134 kg.[18]

Design[]

Two variants of the Alice were originally planned.[19] The initial, unpressurized model is intended for air taxi operations, with energy stored in a lithium-ion battery. Eviation was working on building a prototype scheduled to fly in early 2019.[19] In 2017, a second pressurized model was to be an extended-range ER executive aircraft available by 2023 for $2.9 million, with a more powerful aluminum-air battery with a lithium-polymer buffer, a cabin pressurized to 1,200 m (4,000 ft) at FL 280, G5000 avionics, a 444 km/h (240 kn) cruise and 1,367 km (738 nmi) range.[19] In October 2019, Eviation described only the pressurized Alice Commuter with a 260 kn (480 km/h) cruise speed.[20]

With 260 Wh/kg cells, the 900 kWh battery capacity (3,460 kg, 7,630 lb) is initially estimated to give the design a range of 540–650 nmi (1,000–1,200 km) at 240 knots and 10,000 ft (3,048 m).[3] This is anticipated to increase as battery technology improves.[3] The batteries have been tested to more than 1,000 cycles, equivalent to 3,000 flight hours, and will then require replacement at a cost of $250,000 - half of the direct operating cost, similar to a piston engine overhaul.[3] Based on U.S. industrial electricity prices, the direct operating cost with nine passengers and two crew, flying at 240 kn (440 km/h), is claimed to be $200 per hour, which compares to $600–1,000 per hour for existing aircraft of similar purchase price such as the Cessna 402s, Pilatus PC-12 and Beechcraft King Air, for operations on routes under 500 nmi (930 km).[3][6] 45% of air routes fall within its 565 nmi (1,050 km) range at 260 kn (482 km/h), or 55% of airline flights according to Flightglobal's Cirium data.[7]

The electric drivetrain will have a higher voltage than current electrical systems.[3] Three 260 kW (350 hp) motors drive two pusher propellers mounted on the wingtips, located in the vortices to improve efficiency, and a third mounted in the tail.[3] The unpressurized aircraft has a flat lower fuselage.[3] The Italian company supplies landing gear and has already produced the gear for the similarly sized Piaggio P.180 Avanti.[3] It will be built with existing technology, including a composite airframe, propulsion from three Siemens electric engines and Honeywell flight control systems, including automatic landing.[5] At 3,700kg (8,200lb), the batteries account for 60% of the aircraft take-off weight.[9] Manufacturing is planned in the US.[8]

The company plans for recharging to be carried out by mobile charging vehicles, similar to aviation fuel trucks. Each hour of flight time is expected to require a charging time of 30 minutes.[5][21] The cells are similar to those from auto industry batteries.[1]

Orders[]

The first buyer for the Alice was Cape Air, a regional airline serving the Northeast US as well as the Caribbean.[22] In August 2021, Deutsche Post DHL announced that it had ordered 12 aircraft to transport air freight, to be delivered by 2024. [23]

Specifications (intended)[]

Data from Eviation[24]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 9 passengers
  • Length: 17.09 m (56 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 3.84 m (12 ft 7 in)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,484 kg (16,500 lb)
  • Commuter Payload: 1,100 kg (2,400 lb)
  • Cargo Payload: 1,100 kg (2,500 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × magniX 650 Electrical Power Unit , 640 kW (860 hp) each

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 407 km/h (253 mph, 220 kn)
  • Range: 815 km (506 mi, 440 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 9,800 m (32,200 ft)
  • Typical Cruise Altitude: 3,000 m (10,000 ft)
  • Take-off Field Length: 790 m (2,600 ft)
  • Landing Distance: 730 m (2,400 ft)
  • Balanced Field Takeoff (Dry, ISA, Sea Level): 1,100 m (3,500 ft)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Jon Hemmerdinger (16 December 2020). "Eviation tweaks Alice design, aims for 2021 first flight". Flightglobal.
  2. ^ Simon Griver (3 September 2019). "Clermont buys Israeli electric aircraft co Eviation". Globes.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Graham Warwick (26 February 2018). "Batteries Ready To Power Electric Regional Aircraft, Says Eviation". Aviation Week & Space Technology.(subscription required)
  4. ^ Grady, Mary (6 March 2018). "Eviation Chooses Battery Supplier". AVweb.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Kerry Lynch and Chad Trautvetter (28 December 2018). "Eviation, ERAU Join Forces on Electric Aircraft". AIN online.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Kate Sarsfield (8 January 2019). "Eviation secures funding for all-electric Alice". Flightglobal.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Jon Hemmerdinger (22 April 2019). "MagniX to supply Eviation Alice motors as all-electric advances". Flightglobal.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Eviation unveils electric airplane and plans flight tests in central Washington state". Geek Wire. 18 June 2019.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Kate Sarsfield (18 June 2019). "Cape air named as launch customer for the Alice electric aircraft". Flightglobal.
  10. ^ "Electric Planes, Flying Taxis, Supersonic Jets: Paris Air Show Gives Us a Peek at the Future of Flight". Fortune. 22 June 2019.
  11. ^ Kate Sarsfield (30 August 2019). "Clermont acquires Eviation Aircraft". Flightglobal.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "Orders for a new all-electric plane now top 150". Bloomberg. 24 October 2019.
  13. ^ "First electric VTOL Lilium Jet prototype goes up in flames: Updated". FlightGlobal. 2 March 2020. Eviation’s Alice fixed-wing prototype was destroyed by a blaze on 22 January that started in a ground-based battery system.
  14. ^ O'Connor, Kate (24 January 2020). "Eviation Electric Aircraft Prototype Damaged In Testing Fire". AVweb. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Electric Plane Catches Fire Last Night". Plane & Pilot Magazine. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  16. ^ "Eviation Alice fire involved lithium-Ion batteries which ignited after hours of power plant tests". FlightGlobal. 20 November 2020.
  17. ^ "GKN Aerospace and Eviation sign Collaboration Agreement on Wing, Empennage and EWIS for Alice All-Electric Aircraft" (Press release). 18 May 2019.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b Jon Hemmerdinger (1 July 2021). "Eviation changes Alice design, performance specifications shift". Flightglobal.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b c Paul Jackson (8 October 2017). "Emerging Aircraft: Props And Turboprops". Aviation Week Network.
  20. ^ "Alice Commuter". Eviation. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Eviation Secures 150 Total Orders for its All-Electric Commuter Aircraft". Transport Up. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  22. ^ Spillane, Geoff. "Cape Cod-based Cape Air announced to fly all-electric plane". capecodtimes.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  23. ^ DHL Express shapes future for sustainable aviation with the order of first-ever all-electric cargo planes from Eviation
  24. ^ "Alice Specifications". Eviation.

External links[]

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