Electric 9-seater planes are on the way, can fly up to 500 miles on a full charge [Video]

The big picture: Multiple startups are racing to get electric planes into the skies, but some are closer to achieving this than others. One of the frontrunners is Eviation, which is already accepting orders for its zero-emission, fully-electric Alice aircraft. However, certification challenges mean we likely won’t be flying in Alice until the end of the decade.

The most recent orders come from UrbanLink Air Mobility, a South Florida company that is doubling down on its electrification plans for urban air travel. The initial order is for 10 nine-seat variants of the Alice, with options for 10 more in the future. This represents a significant step towards the company’s goal of building an all-electric mobility network across its hub cities of Miami, Los Angeles, and San Juan.

The Alice aircraft relies on a substantial 8,000-pound battery pack housed within its …