The Cessna eCaravan, equipped with a Magnix engine, had its first test in the state of Washington, USA.
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The manufacturer of electric motors Magnix equipped a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft to convert it into a Cessna eCaravan, which on Thursday, May 28, made its maiden flight over Lake Moses in Washington state, in the northwestern United States.
“It is a niche market,” said Magnix CEO Roei Ganzarski, as this type of electric aircraft seeks to become a option for commercial flights that also do not harm the environment. “We go to the market quickly with the main purpose of being able to start this revolution,” he added.
With a single propeller, the Magni500 engine delivers 750 horsepower, so the manufacturer claims it is sufficient for “half-mile aircraft” that can carry between five and 19 passengers. According to the company, with its little more than 11 meters long it is the commercial electric airplane largest in the world to have flown.
In the testing stage, Magnix must demonstrate that the lithium batteries that power its engines can offer feasible flight times, since the range of the Caravan would be reduced to a few 160 kilometers. “The challenge is that batteries are not as powerful as fuel,” said Ganzarski.
During this testing process, manufacturers also face the challenge of weight, since the battery can be heavier than the equivalent amount of fuel.
Ecological advantages
As Ganzarski explained, airplanes with electric motors will have zero gas emissions and will demand less maintenance than traditional ones. “Car and airplane emissions are not only bad for health, they are also bad for the environment,” he said, making it stand out as a “huge” positive fact that electric planes “produce zero emissions.”
Another advantage of this type of flight is that its hourly operation would be between 50 and 80% cheaper, so the passages could also have a lower cost. This, according to Ganzarski, could lead different airlines to operate smaller planes on more routes.
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