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BETA Technologies details fixed wing electric plane: 22K miles flown, interstate travel [Video]
Electric aviation company BETA Technologies has been quietly working on some impressive zero-emissions aircraft technology and is now sharing its achievements with the world. Today, BETA announced plans to produce and certify its CX300 fixed-wing electric plane, which has already flown over 22,000 test miles and undergone evaluation flights for FAA certification. Watch this eCTOL takeoff in the video below.
BETA Technologies is a fully integrated electric aviation system developer based in Vermont that has already made headlines on Electrek with its first aircraft – the ALIA-250 eVTOL. The company has spent years developing electrified versions of its aircraft using what it calls “test articles.”
BETA is unique in that it tests two prototypes simultaneously to capture twice as much performance data at once, focusing on both hovering and wing-borne flight. Speaking of wing-borne flight, BETA Technologies has shared new details of its second aircraft joining its eVTOL, an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) plane called the CX300.
With key milestones already achieved, BETA has opened up orders for its fixed-wing electric plane alongside an operation and certification path already in place.
BETA’s eCTOL electric plane protoype has flown 386 miles
According to the release from BETA Technologies today, it now intends to certify its CX300 fixed-wing electric plane for customer use and expects to do so in the next two years, opening its order books to customers who are already locking in their reservations.
BETA shared that it has been flying the eCTOL prototype for the past couple of years, hitting several key milestones while simultaneously showcasing encouraging all-electric performance. For instance, the eCTOL has already flown over 22,000 test miles, crossed multiple state lines, and completed qualitative evaluation flights with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Force, and Army test pilots.
The company shared that the CX300 is the only electric aircraft to have flown through Class B and C airspace – the busiest in the US. It has also completed the longest series of real-world flights in an electric plane, flying more than 2,000 nautical miles from Plattsburgh, New York, to Bentonville, Arkansas, charging using its own infrastructure along its journey west.
BETA applied for Type Certification with the FAA last year and is now targeting 2025 as the expected timeline for approval, followed by its first electric plane deliveries to companies. That includes new and current customers, like Bristow (which made a deposit-backed order for 50 CX300s with the option for 55 more) and Air New Zealand (which confirmed three eCTOLs with the option to purchase 20 more).
The eCTOLs could serve these aviation companies as all-electric air taxis that can transport passengers and goods across shorter distances – achieving up to 386 miles in the current CX300 prototypes. Final range numbers in the production eCTOLs remain unclear at this time.
BETA explains that the fixed-wing electric plane’s airframe, batteries, propulsion, and systems are the same as the ALIA-250 eVTOL, which is already advancing through the FAA certification process. As a result, the company expects certification to go smoothly.
Furthermore, since the CX300 flies through conventional takeoff and landing methods, the BETA team believes it can be certified under the FAA’s existing rules for airplanes more quickly compared to nontraditional eVTOLs. BETA founder and CEO Kyle Clark elaborated:
We have been flying our eCTOL prototype airport-to-airport for a few years now to drive technological advancements in propulsion and systems, and now we’re seeing that there is a clear market for this product in addition to our eVTOL aircraft. Global operators are looking for practical solutions to help meet their sustainability commitments, and after seeing the cost and performance of this prototype, our customers are eager to integrate it into their fleet. With its known certification and operational path, this aircraft represents an opportunity to get electric aviation into the market, and into the hands of our customers, as quickly as possible.
Looking ahead, BETA Technologies says it will continue the design and certification of the eCTOL electric plane alongside the ALIA-250 eVTOL while it puts the finishing touches on a new production facility in Vermont, where it intends to conduct final assembly. That facility remains on track to begin manufacturing this summer. Watch BETA’s CX300 electric plane take off in the video below.
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Thanks to a clever, fully electric swing system and “boom up” power assist features, the big PC365-11 hybrid excavator from Komatsu promises better performance and serious fuel savings compared to conventional diesel machines.
Komatsu says its PC365-11 hybrid excavator uses a “boom-up” power assist feature that captures and stores kinetic energy during different operation cycles, then taps into that power to provide an extra energy boost when needed. The result is 15% more productivity and a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency when compared to non-hybrid excavators in ~40 ton class.
“The PC365LC-11 was engineered for excellence in multifunction applications by leveraging its innovative electric powertrain system to boost job site productivity while reducing fuel consumption,” says Matthew Moen, Komatsu’s product manager. “To highlight these performance enhancements, we’re emphasizing the concept of ‘multifunction plus’ as the defining feature of this machine.”
How it works
Komatsu’s hybrid system replaces the conventional hydraulic swing function with a fully electric swing motor that draws power from an ultracapacitor (as opposed to a battery) energy storage unit. As excavator slows or stops swinging, something like a regenerative braking system captures the kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat and stores it in the capacitor. Once there, the stored energy can be quickly released to power the swing motor or assist the engine, delivering up to an extra 70 hp when needed to support heavy lifting or digging cycles.
And, thanks to Komatsu’s proprietary software, all of this energy capture and reuse happens automagically during normal work, without the need for external charging. The fuel savings happen because removing the hydraulic load from the ICE engine allows it to run at an ultra-low idle, while the productivity comes from the greater power and overall speed of the electric operations vs. conventional hydraulics.
Electrek’s Take
Trust me when I tell you that Komatsu didn’t wake up one day and decide to build a capacitor-based hybrid crane. One of their customers had the idea and came to them, promising orders. That’s what Komatsu does – from undersea remote control dozers to lunar mining rigs (above), if you bring Komatsu an order, they will absolutely find a way to fill it.
As for PC365-11 hybrid excavator, it’s packed with clever tech, overall – offering significant fuel, emissions, and TCO reductions without dramatically changing the operational logistics of an existing fleet’s operations. That’s all the sales pitch it needs.
SOURCE: Komatsu, via Equipment World.
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For serious fleet buyers, safety isn’t a “nice-to-have,” it’s an absolute must – and Kia’s new PV5 electric van meets that need with a positively stellar, five-star safety rating on the tough European NCAP safety test.
The new “do-it-all” Kia PV5 showed strong performance across a number of key safety categories, including Occupant Protection, Safety Assist/Crash Avoidance, and Post-Crash Safety. The PV5’s robust suite of standard ADAS technologies that includes AEB, Lane Support System, and Speed Assistance System also helped the new electric work van to deliver top marks in the NCAP’s “real world” test scenarios.
“The PV5 opens a new chapter in practical, electrified mobility, offering generous space and modular versatility for everyday use,” explains Sangdae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the (relatively) new PBV Business Division at Kia. “Achieving the top Euro NCAP five-star rating is clear validation of its safety performance and will serve as strong momentum as Kia expands its PBV lineup across Europe.”
The Euro NCAP tests highlighted the strong performance of a number of the PV5’s ADAS features, specifically calling out the following:
- Demonstrated strong responsiveness in vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios
- Provides additional protection for pedestrians behind the vehicle
- Avoided collisions in most pedestrian and cyclist test cases
The Kia PV5 slots into familiar territory for US buyers, landing roughly in the same size class as the Ford Transit Connect or Ram ProMaster City, with ~180 cubic feet of interior cargo space available, which is plenty to make it attractive for last-mile delivery and trade work in tight urban markets.
Globally, the PV5 is offered with a number of battery options, including a smaller 43.3 kWh Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) pack, as well as larger Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (NCM) packs at 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh. The longest-range versions are good for about 250 miles of estimated range – more than enough for Kia to make a case for it as a practical, city-focused alternative to much larger (and pricier) electric vans.
Larger vans, by the way, that may not have that 5 star Euro NCAP rating.
Kia PV5
SOURCE | IMAGES: Kia; photo by Scooter Doll.
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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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