Flying in Beta Technologies' Alia CX300 showed me why electric planes aren't mainstream yet
Beta Technologies is working toward 2027 FAA certification for its electric Alia CX300 aircraft, but significant battery weight and economic viability remain major hurdles. While the plane demonstrates impressive efficiency, the transition to mainstream commercial electric aviation faces substantial engineering and financial challenges.
Why it matters
Electric aviation represents a potential shift in sustainable travel, but the industry must overcome significant technical and economic barriers to become a reality.
tk Beta's electric plane can already fly for hours. So why aren't paying passengers riding in one yet? The biggest roadblock is hiding under the floor: nearly 3,000 pounds of batteries. Beta is racing toward a 2027 certification target, but getting airborne may be the easy part. US airline fares rose almost 24% over the past year, making the prospect of cheaper short flights especially appealing. One possible solution: electric planes. For our video series, " The Limit ," I recently took a 25-minute flight on Beta Technologies' Alia CX300. The journey used about $5.25 in electricity. A comparable trip in a conventional jet-fuel-powered plane would have cost an estimated 10 times as much in fuel, about $60 Electric aviation has spent decades promising an electric-car-style revolution. Beyond lower costs, electric planes could make short flights quieter and produce no in-flight emissions.
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