Heart X1, the World’s Largest Electric Plane, Completes First Flight on Just $5 Worth of Electricity

Sweden-founded aircraft manufacturer Heart Aerospace has successfully tested the experimental 11-ton Heart X1. Featuring a wingspan of over 32 meters, the aircraft stayed aloft for 27 minutes, making it the largest fully battery-powered plane ever to take to the skies.

The flight took place at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York State. The aircraft climbed to an altitude of roughly 335 meters (1,100 feet). The 11.3-ton machine was powered by four electric motors with a combined output of over 1 MW, running solely on traction batteries. According to industry publication AeroTime, direct electricity costs for the entire test flight came out to around $5.

Platform for the 30-Seat ES-30 Passenger Airliner

As reported by InsideEVs, the X1 flight demonstrator is designed to test the powertrain and control systems in practice ahead of building the commercial ES-30 regional airliner.

The production 30-seater model will feature a hybrid-electric setup. Range will reach up to 200 km in fully electric mode with zero emissions, and up to 800 km when utilizing the hybrid system. Fast charging will take around 30 minutes, which is expected to cut operating costs for airlines by 40% compared to traditional turboprop aircraft.

Assembly of the first pre-production ES-30 prototype is already underway at the company’s facility in Los Angeles, with testing set to begin in 2028. Certification and the launch of scheduled commercial flights for airline partners—including United Airlines and Air Canada—are planned for 2031.

🚨WORLD’S LARGEST battery-electric plane just flew. 😱✈️

Heart Aerospace X1
106-ft wingspan
25,000+ lb takeoff weight
27 minutes in the air
$5 of electricity

Commercial-scale electric flight is no longer theory. pic.twitter.com/TNOYWE5zbO

— Rajat Jain (@RajatJain) August 13, 2026