There is one thing about flying that hasn't changed since the Wright Brothers made the first plane in 1903 - besides better engines and aircraft designs - most modern planes have one thing in common that they all use fossil fuels.

Sky-high ambitions: Electric aircraft market set to exceed $37 billion | World DNA

A US company debuts its first electric plane test flight, flying the battery-powered Alice for 8 minutes in central Washington state.

WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft

Marking a new phase in aviation travel and sustainability, an all-electric aeroplane prototype took off the tarmac in Central Washington and soared 3,500 feet high into the sky in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.&nbsp;

The aeroplane named 'Alice' took off from Moses Lake, Washington&nbsp;and lasted eight minutes in the air before taxing onto the terminal. However, by then, the plane and its manufacturing company 'Eviation' had registered themselves in the history books.&nbsp;

“What we’ve just done is made aviation history. This is about changing the way that we fly. It’s about connecting communities in a sustainable way," Eviation CEO Greg Davis was quoted as saying by The Seattle Times.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-business-news-us-company-debuts-all-electric-aircraft-520425">WATCH |&nbsp;WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft</a>

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Reportedly, the airplane has a carbon composite frame and is powered by 21,500 small Tesla-style battery cells which make up half of its four-tonne weight. The plane can carry nine passengers and two pilots.&nbsp;

Test pilot Steve Crane, 55, who flew 'Alice' heaped praises on the new electric airplane and <a href="https://twitter.com/dominicgates/status/1574763980429864960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1574763980429864960%7Ctwgr%5E818bca5e037b0c2bb1919d29010bd77915400c93%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.seattletimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fboeing-aerospace%2Ffirst-u-s-all-electric-airplane-takes-flight-at-moses-lake%2F">added </a>that he couldn't hear the sound of the engine.&nbsp;

"It’s beautiful. The team did a great job, built a great airplane. It’s a fast airplane, very responsive. I couldn’t be happier. I hear all the other things. Hydraulic pumps. I hear the propellers. But I can’t hear the engines. They’re silent," said Crane.&nbsp;

While the flight was a success, Davis conceded that they were nowhere near achieving commercial capabilities which could take as much as five years.&nbsp;

“Are the batteries on the prototype aircraft capable of propelling the certification aircraft, capable of providing sufficient energy? The answer is no, absolutely not,” said Davis.&nbsp;

Notably, the first all-electric aeroplane flight was made in 2019 by&nbsp;Harbour Air of Vancouver, BC which used a retrofitted DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Marking a new phase in aviation travel and sustainability, an all-electric aeroplane prototype took off the tarmac in Central Washington and soared 3,500 feet high into the sky in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Marking a new phase in aviation travel and sustainability, an all-electric aeroplane prototype took off the tarmac in Central Washington and soared 3,500 feet high into the sky in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. The aeroplane named 'Alice' took off from Moses Lake, Washington and lasted eight minutes in the air before taxing onto the terminal. However, by then, the plane and its manufacturing company 'Eviation' had registered themselves in the history books. “What we’ve just done is made aviation history. This is about changing the way that we fly. It’s about connecting communities in a sustainable way," Eviation CEO Greg Davis was quoted as saying by The Seattle Times. WATCH | WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft × Reportedly, the airplane has a carbon composite frame and is powered by 21,500 small Tesla-style battery cells which make up half of its four-tonne weight. The plane can carry nine passengers and two pilots. Test pilot Steve Crane, 55, who flew 'Alice' heaped praises on the new electric airplane and added that he couldn't hear the sound of the engine. "It’s beautiful. The team did a great job, built a great airplane. It’s a fast airplane, very responsive. I couldn’t be happier. I hear all the other things. Hydraulic pumps. I hear the propellers. But I can’t hear the engines. They’re silent," said Crane. While the flight was a success, Davis conceded that they were nowhere near achieving commercial capabilities which could take as much as five years. “Are the batteries on the prototype aircraft capable of propelling the certification aircraft, capable of providing sufficient energy? The answer is no, absolutely not,” said Davis. Notably, the first all-electric aeroplane flight was made in 2019 by Harbour Air of Vancouver, BC which used a retrofitted DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

All-electric airplane prototype completes eight-minute flight in Washington, scripts history

According to Britain's iconic auto giant&nbsp;Rolls-Royce, the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ aircraft is the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft.

Rolls-Royce said the aircraft has already set three new world records while adding that it has informed the world air sports federation that the aircraft reached a top speed of 555.9 km per hour over 3 kilometres while smashing the existing record by 213.04 km per hour.

The company claimed the aircraft reached a top speed of 532.1 km per hour over 15 kilometres at UK's Boscombe Down testing site as it broke the fastest time to climb to 3,000 metres by 60 seconds with a time of 202 seconds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trams-cable-cars-electric-ferries-how-cities-are-rethinking-transit-417760">Also Read:&nbsp;Trams, cable cars, electric ferries: How cities are rethinking transit</a>

"During its record-breaking runs, the aircraft clocked up a maximum speed of 623 km/h which we believe makes the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ the world’s fastest all-electric vehicle," it said.

Watch:&nbsp;Aston Martin plans to go electric

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"Following the world’s focus on the need for action at COP26, this is another milestone that will help make ‘jet zero’ a reality and supports our ambitions to deliver the technology breakthroughs," Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/worlds-largest-all-electric-plane-soars-in-the-air-for-the-first-time-301786#largest-all-electric-plane-301775">In Pics:&nbsp;World's largest all-electric plane soars in the air for the first time</a>

The company said the record-breaking feat was achieved through its 400kW electric powertrain and power-dense propulsion battery pack. The company said it hopes the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)&nbsp;will certify the record while highlighting advances in "electrification of aerospace".

Phill O’Dell who was the test pilot and the director of flight operations said it was the highlight of his career while claiming it was a "momentous occasion". Rolls-Royce said it has learnt from the motorsport background of its partners.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to Britain's iconic auto giant Rolls-Royce, the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ aircraft is the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft. Rolls-Royce said the aircraft has already set three new world records while adding that it has informed the world air sports federation that the aircraft reached a top speed of 555.

According to Britain's iconic auto giant Rolls-Royce, the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ aircraft is the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft. Rolls-Royce said the aircraft has already set three new world records while adding that it has informed the world air sports federation that the aircraft reached a top speed of 555.9 km per hour over 3 kilometres while smashing the existing record by 213.04 km per hour. The company claimed the aircraft reached a top speed of 532.1 km per hour over 15 kilometres at UK's Boscombe Down testing site as it broke the fastest time to climb to 3,000 metres by 60 seconds with a time of 202 seconds. Also Read: Trams, cable cars, electric ferries: How cities are rethinking transit "During its record-breaking runs, the aircraft clocked up a maximum speed of 623 km/h which we believe makes the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ the world’s fastest all-electric vehicle," it said. Watch: Aston Martin plans to go electric "Following the world’s focus on the need for action at COP26, this is another milestone that will help make ‘jet zero’ a reality and supports our ambitions to deliver the technology breakthroughs," Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce said. In Pics: World's largest all-electric plane soars in the air for the first time The company said the record-breaking feat was achieved through its 400kW electric powertrain and power-dense propulsion battery pack. The company said it hopes the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) will certify the record while highlighting advances in "electrification of aerospace". Phill O’Dell who was the test pilot and the director of flight operations said it was the highlight of his career while claiming it was a "momentous occasion". Rolls-Royce said it has learnt from the motorsport background of its partners. (With inputs from Agencies)

‘Spirit of Innovation’: Rolls-Royce claims it has flown world’s fastest all-electric aircraft

To speed up deliveries in small markets United Parcel Service (UPS) has agreed to buy 10 electrical aircraft from Beta Technologies (BETA). The vehicle has a 1,400 lb cargo capacity, a range of 250 miles and zero operating emissions.

World Business Watch: UPS to buy 10 electric aircraft for delivery

Rolls-Royce has completed the first taxiing of its electric aircraft ahead of its first flight and an attempt to break the world record for the fastest electric aeroplane later this year.

World Business Watch: Rolls-Royce powers up all-electric aircraft

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