BETA Technologies CX300: Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide
Pros: A zero-emission aircraft with impressive range for its type, backed by military and commercial operators, which could change the outlook of short-haul regional flying.
Cons: Hasn’t received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification, and no confirmed pricing out yet. Certification is targeted for the second half of 2027.
Flying:
The CX300 has demonstrated range of 336nm (386 miles) and a top cruise speed of about 135 knots. Although modest compared with most aircraft we cover, the CX300 is a fully electric aircraft that produces zero-emissions during flight, and that range covers the distance the majority of turboprop regional routes typically fly, with a much lower operating cost, according to Beta.
Propulsion comes from a single in-house developed H500A electric motor which powers a five-bladed pusher propeller. Its energy is stored in a 225kWh battery system which is made up of five high voltage packs. This set up is a simplified drive train compared with a conventional turboprop.
The efficiency of the CX300 is where it becomes compelling. Charging the aircraft to full reportedly takes under an hour, and due to the fully electric drive train the energy costs per flight hour will only be a fraction of the cost of what a turboprop owner would pay for fuel. For a short-haul regional aircraft operating high frequency short trips, the amount you would in total save would be significant.
That said, the CX300 does come with some limitations. At only 135 knots cruise, the CX300 is slower than a conventional turboprop.
There are also questions about battery replacement costs which we will dig into below.
Operating:
The CX300 is not an aircraft you can order and fly yet. FAA certification is expected around late 2026-2027. Beta claims its factory in Vermont, US is ready to produce up to 300 aircraft annually once certification has been attained.
Confirmed customers include UPS, Bristow Group, Blade Air Mobility, United Therapeutics and the US Air Force — through the US Department of Defense’s Agility Prime programme. It’s a roster that covers cargo, medevac, offshore operations and military logistics. There is also the potential of passenger trips on the horizon. Air New Zealand has placed orders, and UK regional carrier Loganair has been conducting live commercial-environment test flights and postal trials using the CX300.
Beta’s vision goes beyond just creating a full electric aircraft. Beta has been selected for seven of the eight FAA and US Department of Transportation eVTOL integration programmes, more than any other electric aircraft developer.
The CX300’s entry into service isn’t without challenges though. The time taken for electric aircraft to gain certification has taken longer than expected. Beta’s original target for certification was late 2025 and has now slipped to the second half of 2027.
Another consideration is battery degradation over a year’s cycle. Research suggests that electric aircraft battery capacity can fall significantly within the first year of service.
Travelling:
The CX300 has a deliberately functional cabin. Its standard formation has five passenger seats in a climate-controlled cabin, most likely to be used for regional air taxi services. It also offers a four-seat variant with more cargo and a full cargo configuration which takes away all the passenger seats.
Whilst the cabin lacks the luxury of a corporate aircraft, passengers will notice how quiet the cabin is during flight. This is result of the all-electric drivetrain.
A 45-minute flight from East Hampton to JFK consumed just $7 / £5.22 of electrical power. Of course, prices will be higher than this when all the other variable costs are included, but it is still likely to be cheaper than standard turboprops.
Beta also says that later variants it plans to develop could be even larger, from 6-8 seats.
Hard Facts: Beta Technologies CX300
Range: 386m/622km/336nm
Maximum Speed: 155mph/250kmph/135KTAS
Charge time: >1 hour
Passengers: 6 including pilot
Price: Not yet confirmed
Wingspan: 50 feet
Max Power: 427 kW