World's largest electric plane takes flight — the whole trip cost less than a cup of coffee

Swedish startup Heart Aerospace has completed a successful test flight of the X1, the largest fully electric aircraft ever flown. The 27-minute flight validated the economic case for replacing conventional jet fuel with batteries on regional routes and has already drawn interest from United Airlines and Air Canada.

According to Engadget, the X1 took off from Plattsburgh International Airport in New York State and spent 27 minutes in the air, climbing to an altitude of roughly 335 meters. The entire flight, including takeoff and landing, was powered solely by battery energy. Engineers calculated that the electricity consumed during the test cost less than $5 — cheaper than a typical cup of coffee at an airport café.

The next milestone for the project is the ES-30, a 30-seat regional aircraft with a hybrid powertrain. Heart Aerospace expects the ES-30 to fly up to 200 kilometers on battery power alone, extending to approximately 800 kilometers when the hybrid system is engaged. In the long run, such aircraft could serve as a replacement for conventional turbine-powered passenger planes on short-haul routes.

Fuel savings are only part of the cost reduction story for the ES-30. The company also anticipates lower maintenance expenses for electric motors and potentially higher reliability compared to combustion engines. Heart Aerospace has not ruled out the possibility of fully autonomous operation of the aircraft in the future.

The company plans to bring the ES-30 into commercial service by 2031, with the X1 serving as a critical proof-of-concept for the technology. The successful test marks a significant step toward decarbonizing regional aviation, an industry segment that has been notoriously difficult to electrify due to the weight and energy density limitations of current battery technology.