An electric plane lands at Hoogeveen airport and is charged there. Eelde Airport expects electric flying to take off and wants to respond to this development. Photo: Marcel Jurian de Jong
What will our mode of transport look like in the future? The new form of locomotion has been underway for a long time, as can be seen from the growing number of electric cars. But the next step is really revolutionary: electric flying. Are we willing to pay more for this sustainable option? Reply to the statement of the day: I am willing to pay more to travel sustainably.
Transport gurus Carlo van de Weijer and Maarten Steinbuch of Eindhoven University of Technology sketch the future: cars and bicycles remain favourites, but the new way of flying is causing a revolution. The first electric passenger aircraft will be launched in 2026, with room for 19 passengers. With these devices, the winter sports holiday or business trip can start at a regional airport of modest size, such as Drachten, Hoogeveen or Oostwold.
The future
EasyJet only wants to fly electrically from 2030. By then, the batteries are expected to be powerful enough to fly aircraft with more than 100 passengers over medium-range 1500 to 3000 kilometers. In vast Norway, electric flying will be mandatory for domestic flights from 2040.
But how much are we willing to pay for a sustainable option? Reply to the statement of the day: I am willing to pay more to fly electric