This Electric Plane's Running Costs Are Similar To A Petrol Car!
Vermont-based aerospace manufacturer Beta Technologies has completed the first passenger trials of their all-electric plane- Alia CX300. This is the first time that an electric plane takes to the skies with passengers. What stands out here is the running cost of this flight. It turns out that this plane can fly at a (fuel) cost similar to that of a petrol car! It flew from East Hampton to the John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in the United States. This amounts to a distance of 130 kilometres (70 nautical miles). The cost of this flight stood at just Rs 694 (or $8) in fuel. This is in fact, comparable to the running costs of petrol cars like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in the US!
Yes, this story is set in the backdrop of the United States and not India. $8 for 81 miles (130 km) would mean a running cost of approximately 10-11 cents per mile! This is similar to the running costs of a mid-size petrol car like the ones mentioned above.
The Camry for example, now has a running cost of 9-11 cents per mile. Considering the mileage of these sedans to be 20-22kpl (50 mpg), a 130 km drive will cost around $7-$10 in fuel alone ( calculated based on the gas prices in July 2025). Bring in other expenses like insurance, maintenance, depreciation and others, the total cost will only go up.
Now take the case of Alia CX300. Considering that its 'operating cost' covers just the energy expenses, this electric plane stands cheaper than a Toyota Camry! Before you get excited, this is without factoring in the purchase price, maintenance, insurance, pilot's pay or other recurring expenses.
We did this comparison just to show the parity in fuel/energy expenses between the two if someone is to use them on a daily basis. More importantly, we wanted you to know how interesting the electric aviation space is shaping up to be...
More About The Beta Alia CX300
During the test flight, the Alia CX300 had four passengers onboard. It covered the 130 km distance in just 30 minutes. If the same distance were to be covered by a helicopter, the fuel costs alone would have amounted to over $160 (over Rs 13,885).
The CX300, however, is a lot quieter inside, as it has an electric powertrain. Passengers can thus converse clearly during the flight, without having to need headphones or intercoms for the same. Alia is much cheaper than a conventional plane as well. Short-haul flights on small aeroplanes could cost about 160-200 USD.
The CX300 variant features conventional take-off and landing (CTOL). The company is also known to be working on a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) version- the CX250 eVTOL.
The CX300 has electric motors which power propellers. A lot like turboprops, but smaller in size. The aircraft has a fixed-wing design. It is claimed to fly 460 km (250 nautical miles) on a full charge and can cruise at a speed of up to 222 kmph. Perfect fit for short-haul flights.
Electric Aviation Sector Is Opening Up
Beta isn't the only manufacturer innovating the electric aviation sector. Legacy players like Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota are also said to be working on electric plane projects or are developing components and subsystems. As for the Alia CX300, the next big step is getting the FAA accreditation (FAA stands for Federal Aviation Administration). Beta aims to receive this certification by the end of 2025.