TechDogs-"Will EVTOL Businesses Take Off Soon?"

Emerging Technology

Will EVTOL Businesses Take Off Soon?

By TechDogs Bureau

TD NewsDesk

Updated on Mon, Aug 14, 2023

Overall Rating
Do you remember the popular cartoon, The Jetsons? The one where the Jetsons family lived in sky-houses and drove flying cars?

While that seems futuristic, it might just be a few years before we have flying cars!

Considering how many startups and companies are invested in creating electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, otherwise known as eVTOLs, the future for the industry seems bright.

So, which companies are grabbing headlines and why? Let’s explore!
 

What Is Archer Aviation Doing?

 

  • US company Archer Aviation is close to getting its eVTOL aircraft, Midnight, into the air, with the company recently receiving its FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) airworthiness certificate and expecting to begin test flights soon.

  • According to the company, Midnight can reach speeds of up to 150 mph, fly distances up to 100 miles and can conduct back-to-back flights of 20 miles with 12 minutes of charge time in between.

  • It’s on track to become the first company to deliver an eVTOL aircraft to customers and reach commercial operations by 2025, as per its plan.

  • Furthermore, the company secured investments totaling $215 million, from companies like Stellantis, Boeing, United Airlines and ARK Investment Management LLC, reportedly taking its total funding to over $1.1 billion.

  • As per the company’s founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, “The pace at which our industry is advancing is unprecedented. Our team’s hard work and dedication have brought us to this exciting moment, and we can’t wait to see Midnight soar.”

   

What Is LIFT Aircraft Doing?

 

  • In March 2023, US startup LIFT Aircraft completed the first-ever piloted eVTOL demonstration flights in Japan, using its HEXA aircraft. The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) were part of the audience.

  • Matt Chasen, founder and CEO of LIFT Aircraft, said, “JCAB was thorough in their review of our safety standards and our aircraft and gave us the green light to fly. It’s an honor that our aircraft was selected to be the first eVTOL ever piloted in Japan.”

  • The LIFT HEXA is a single-seat aircraft powered by 18 electric motors with individual rotors, with a range of 15 miles and capable of landing on both land and water.

  • Marubeni Corporation (from Japan) partnered with LIFT to conduct the flights and help develop and advance the Japanese eVTOL market, whiile the two recently signed a strategic agreement that includes a preorder option of up to 100 eVTOLs.

   

What Is Volocopter Doing?

 

  • German company Volocopter is looking to bring in its eVTOL, VoloCity, to carry passengers around Paris by the time the Summer Olympics will commence in the city; mid-2024. It will connect the city center with airports and heliports and offer round trips for sightseeing.

  • The VoloCity is a 2-seater aircraft that offers a range of 22 miles, which could be the first eVTOL service in Europe, once it gets clearance from the European aerospace regulator, EASA, which Volocopter expects to get in the next few months.

  • The company has already organized flight paths and landing spots (called vertiports) and according to CFO Christian Bauer, "Everything is ready and set to go for the middle of next year."

   

What Is Lilium Doing?

 

  • Lilium, also a German company, is looking to go bigger, having designed a 6-passenger eVTOL which replaces the rotors for 30 electric jets that change angles to achieve upward and forward propulsion.

  • Lilium expects to get EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) certification in 2025, while it struck a deal in June to sell 100 Lilium eVTOLs to Shenzhen Eastern General Aviation (Heli-Eastern).

  • The company will look to bolster poor transportation networks, with CEO Klaus Roewe saying, "Where you have a good train connection at low cost... we wouldn't want to compete with it. We come into play when there is no infrastructure and infrastructure is difficult to build."

   

What Challenges Do eVTOLs Face?

 

  • One of the biggest challenges is the batteries that power the EVTOLs, which are quite heavy and expensive, to which Volocopter’s Bauer said, "What is hindering us is right now the battery technology, which all the peers are right now working on."

  • Next is range, which may be enough for short trips around the city but can’t cover what a helicopter currently does.

  • Funding could also be a hindrance for companies delving into new technology that hasn’t hit the markets yet. Read more about this here!


The last few years has seen an increase in companies designing eVTOL aircraft, with the aim of providing cleaner, cheaper and quieter air transportation.

Will EVTOL businesses see success soon or will the challenges weigh them down? Let us know in the comments below!

First published on Mon, Aug 14, 2023

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Tags:

Electric VehiclesEmerging Technology EVTOLS Flying Vehicles Archer Aviation LIFT Aircraft Volocopter Lilium Midnight HEXA VoloCity

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