Georgia’s First Electric Plane Makes Its Way To Augusta Regional Airport To Charge Up
We’ve got electric toothbrushes, electric scooters, and electric cars, of course, it wouldn’t be long before we were introduced to an electric airplane.
Georgia’s first electric airplane charger was installed at the Augusta Regional Airport earlier this year, in March of 2023, by BETA Technologies. BETA Technologies is an electric aerospace company based in Vermont.
Four charging stations were installed at the airport. One inside the airfield fence and three in the short-term and general aviation parking lots. The airside charging station supports fast charging up to 350 kW and is compatible with multiple eVTOL aircraft designs, while the dual-port units in the airport’s parking areas can also support electric ground vehicles.
Now those chargers have been put to use! On October 24, BETA Technologies made another visit to the Augusta Regional Airport, but this time they came with an electric plane. This is the first time an aircraft has used the charging station, and again, it is the first and currently only aircraft charging station in the state of Georgia.
Their Alia aircraft is making a trip to Florida and stopped at the Augusta Regional Airport for a charge. Charging this electric aircraft took about an hour.
Having this charger station at the Augusta airport is a part of their goal to be at the forefront of new and emerging technologies and to help make the world greener.
How does an electric plane differ from a fuel plane?
There is no fuel in the electric aircraft, it relies on electricity. It is said to be quick charging, quieter, and nearly three times more efficient than fuel-powered jets.
Having an electric plane is also safer for the planet, whereas the modern flight that we are used to today is completely reliant on fossil fuels. So flying electric is projected to be a cleaner air travel and better for the planet.
The aircraft is not for passenger transport just yet, even though BETA is planning to move in that direction at a later time. Currently, they are first looking to use the aircraft for cargo and medical organ transportation.
