![BETA Technologies offers a glimpse at its passenger-focused ALIA eVTOL [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Passenger-eVTOL-Beta-ALIA.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
BETA Technologies offers a glimpse at its passenger-focused ALIA eVTOL [Video]
Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies may have plans to provide its technology to cargo and medical transport to begin, but its longer-term goal is to implement passenger travel in its flagship ALIA eVTOL. Recently, the company shared a look at what that five-passenger vessel will look like before it launches commercial operations in the future.
BETA Technologies is a fully integrated electric aircraft and systems developer based in Vermont that we’ve been following for over three years after the debut of its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft – the ALIA-250, which has since been renamed the ALIA VTOL.
The ALIA VTOL has since been joined by an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) plane called the ALIA CTOL, which has flown tens of thousands of test miles to date en route to evaluation flights for FAA certification and is targeting full approval for commercial operations by 2025.
With the US Air Force project AFWERX as a partner and long-time collaborator, BETA has continued to develop its sustainable aviation technology, including international flights to Canada and a successful testing deployment with the US Air Force with the ALIA eCTOL.
This past April, BETA shared flight footage of the ALIA eVTOL, which could one day conduct passenger trips, transitioning from vertical takeoff to forward flight while in the air with a pilot onboard.
Unlike many other eVTOL developers, BETA Technologies is not solely focused on passenger travel and intends to begin flight operations for other segments, such as cargo transport. That said, eVTOL passenger flights are still a large part of BETA’s long-term plans, and the company is currently developing the aircraft that will make it possible.
Beta to deploy passenger eVTOL rides after 2025 services
While BETA gears up for commercial operations in other transport sectors, it has offered the public an early look at a passenger variant of its ALIA eVTOL aircraft concept. BETA stated that the passenger version of the ALIA was designed to transport up to five passengers plus a pilot and offers enough cabin volume to accommodate carry-on and TSA-secure luggage.
The sustainable aviation specialist also shared that its passenger eVTOL variant has been optimized for range and volume and will one day be capable of completing intra-city and regional transport trips through the air. BETA founder and CEO Kyle Clark elaborated:
At BETA, we see electric aviation technology as transcending one single mission set. We designed ALIA to be a versatile platform that has tons of capability across sectors, and now we’re starting to step into that vision. With their high dispatch rate and low maintenance and operational energy costs, our electric passenger aircraft will unlock new routes for operators, further increasing the size of the pie.
As you’ll see in the video shared by BETA below, a passenger variant of the ALIA eVTOL is in the works, but it remains a work in progress. The company has been working alongside legacy operators to perfect the aircraft. Additionally, it has been incorporating design feedback from various regional and tourism operators to optimize for comfort, safety, and service.
Before we see passenger flights happen, we should see BETA aircraft performing other services, including transporting goods and equipment via cargo- and medical-focused eVTOL variants. Per BETA’s website:
Our first customer, United Therapeutics, needed to transport life saving medical equipment, organs and tissue, and the support teams required to help save lives. So, we built an aircraft fit to make that happen. UPS saw our aircraft and the potential for cargo space, and we worked to create a cargo option for the market, too.
BETA says those two eVTOL variants are expected to go into service as early as 2025, with passenger aircraft to follow sometime after that. If and when that does happen, the company already has a handful of customers lined up for passenger rides, including Blade, which placed a financially-backed order for up to 20 eVTOLs in 2021.
Additionally, LCI plans to transport guests to the Aria Hotels in Greece using BETA eVTOLs, and Helijet has placed a firm order for four aircraft with an option for four more, to be used for both cargo and passenger mission sets.
As promised, here’s a closer look at the development of BETA’s passenger eVTOL variant:
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The Mockingbird Solar Center, Ørsted’s largest solar project globally, is now online, next to protected prairie donated by the renewable energy giant.
This massive 468-megawatt (MW) solar farm is set to power 80,000 homes and businesses, providing a major boost to the Texas grid.
But the launch of Mockingbird Solar isn’t just about clean energy – it’s also about restoring precious ecosystems. Ørsted has donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, which sits next to the solar center, to The Nature Conservancy. The donated land is now the Smiley Meadow Preserve, a protected area for tallgrass prairie that’s home to more than 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.
Tallgrass prairies are some of the rarest ecosystems in the US, with less than 1% of Texas’ original tallgrass prairies still in existence. Tallgrass prairie does a lot of heavy lifting for the environment, including storing carbon, preventing floods, and providing crucial habitats for pollinators.
“Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas – so much so that many people have never seen one,” said David Bezanson, land protection strategy program director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. He added that preserving Smiley Meadow will not only conserve one of the best prairie remnants left but also help restore other prairie habitats and boost regional biodiversity.
The Mockingbird Solar Center, a half-billion-dollar project, is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion push to expand renewable energy production across the US. Beyond generating electricity, it will inject $75 million into local property taxes, benefiting schools and other public services. The project also created over 550 construction jobs and will continue to be supported by operations staff moving forward.
Ørsted worked with US companies, including First Solar, for solar panels and partnered with local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms for construction materials. It also gave more than $50,000 to local volunteer fire departments in Roxton and Brookston.
With Mockingbird Solar now up and running, Ørsted has more than 6 gigawatts of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects either in operation or being built across the US.
Read more: Ørsted got a huge Tesla battery storage system for the world’s single-largest offshore wind farm
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Jeep’s first global luxury electric SUV will arrive at US dealerships any day. Despite its $72,000 price tag, lease prices for the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV start at just $599 per month.
2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV lease prices
After unveiling its first global electric SUV, Jeep’s CEO said the Wagoneer S “marks a new chapter” in its storied history.
Jeep claims the Wagoneer S packs “exhilarating performance.” With 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque, the big-body SUV can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 100 kWh battery pack also gives it a driving range of over 300 miles.
The electric SUV is unmistakably still a Jeep, but it did get several upgrades to distinguish it as an EV. The grille is now enclosed without the need to cool a massive engine, giving it a sporty, more modern look.
Jeep revamped its design with a new illuminated seven-slot grille with ambient cast lightning. It also fine-tuned its profile, adding flush door handles, a rear wing, and integrated fins for better airflow.
The first Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition models get exclusive dark accent design elements like 20″ Gloss Black Wheels.
Inside, the electric SUV is loaded with the latest tech and connectivity, including a best-in-class 45″ of usable screen space. The setup includes a 12.3″ center screen and an exclusive 10.25″ interactive front passenger screen.
Jeep already announced that the 2024 Wagoneer S EV will start at $71,995, but now the company has revealed lease prices for the first time.
According to Jeep, the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition can be leased for $599 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). The deal includes $4,999 due at signing and a $7,500 EV incentive. However, you may want to act fast, as Jeep’s offer is only good until December 2, 2024.
| Jeep Wagoneer S vs Tesla Model Y | Starting Price | Range | Lease Price |
| Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition | $71,995 | +300 miles | $599/mo |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | $44,990 | 320 miles | $299/mo |
| Tesla Model Y AWD | $47,990 | 308 miles | $399/mo |
| Tesla Model Y AWD Performance | $51,490 | 279 miles | $599/mo |
In comparison, Tesla Model Y RWD lease prices start at $299 for 36 months with $2,999 down (10,000 miles). The Performance AWD model starts at $599 per month. In an end-of-year promo, Tesla also offers 3 months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving.
Ready to drive off in your new electric SUV? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to view offers on the Jeep Wagoneer S and Tesla Model Y at a dealer near you.
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