Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel announced that its Velis Electro two-seater has become the world’s first fully-electric aeroplane to receive certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
“The type certification of the Pipistrel Velis Electro is the first step towards the commercial use of electric aircraft, which is needed to make emission-free aviation feasible,” Pipistrel’s CEO Ivo Boscarol said in a company statement.
Battery-powered Velis Electro is intended primarily for pilot training, and was designed to be simple to operate and maintain, the statement read.
Pipistrel has been working on the research and development of electric aircraft models since 2007.
As a result of all innovations implemented in the construction of Velis Electro, its operating costs have been drastically reduced, thus contributing to the affordability of pilot training.
Pipistrel will deliver the first 31 Velis Electro planes to customers in seven different countries by the end of 2020, it said.