An electric plane which has been on the coming soon list for decades. But it might arrive sooner than we imagined. Avinor, Norway’s aviation industry gears up to go electric. The state-run aviation company tested a two-seater electric plane on June 18 and expects to start the passenger flights by 2025. Transport Minister Ketil Solvik-Olsen and Head of Avinor, Dag Falk-Petersen were the first to take a few minutes test ride around Oslo airport. It has been further reported that the Norwegian government is planning to make all the domestic flights electric by 2040. The first short trip was taken in an Alpha Electro G2 plane which is developed by Pipistrel in Slovenia.

In a proud moment, Solvin-Olsen told Reuters, “This is ... a first example that we are moving fast forward,” toward greener aviation. “We do have to make sure it is safe - people won’t fly if they don’t trust it,” he further added. The Transport Minister further reported that plane makers such as Boeing and Airbus were creating electric aircraft and the battery prices were reducing which made it possible to reach the government goal. They aim to make all domestic flights in Norway electric by 2040. But passenger flights are expected to start earlier.

Talking about electric passenger flights Falk-Petersen, the pilot said, “My best guess is before 2025 ... It should all be electrified by 2040.” The first passengers reported that the plane, with a take off weight of 570 kg (1255 lb), was ‘cramped and buffeted’ by winds but far lighter than the regular ones run on fossil fuels. Norway, a mountainous country of five million people tops the world league for huge sales of electric cars in the past such as Teslas, Nissan Leafs, Volkswagen Golfs which are also backed by incentives like big tax breaks, free parking and free from road tolls.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 19, 2018 10:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).