Articles tagged with "eVTOL"
New battery to power Chinese flying taxis with more speed, safety
Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High-tech has partnered with eVTOL developer Ehang to equip Ehang’s flagship EH216 aerial vehicle with Gotion’s advanced 46-series cylindrical battery cells. This upgrade promises to enhance the EH216’s performance by providing longer range, stronger power output, and improved safety. The collaboration builds on a prior agreement from December 2023 and aims to accelerate the commercialization of low-altitude urban air mobility by improving battery technology tailored for short-range autonomous flights. Ehang, a pioneer in China’s eVTOL sector, has demonstrated significant progress with its EH216-S model, which currently offers a top speed of 80.8 mph and a flight duration of up to 25 minutes. Notably, Ehang tested a version with solid-state batteries that achieved a continuous flight of over 48 minutes, highlighting ongoing efforts to advance battery technology for aerial applications. Gotion, ranked as the sixth-largest global power battery manufacturer with a 3.4% market share,
energybattery-technologyeVTOLaerial-vehicleselectric-vertical-takeoff-and-landingenergy-storageurban-air-mobilityChina firm unveils maiden commercial flying car with 18.6-mile range
China’s GAC Group has unveiled its first commercial flying car, the Govy AirCab, at the Hong Kong International Auto and Supply Chain Expo. This two-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle features a lightweight design with a 90% carbon fiber fuselage and offers a range of approximately 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) per charge. It can be fully charged in 25 minutes and supports rapid charging to 50% in 15 minutes, enabled by high-density cylindrical batteries. The AirCab includes advanced features such as 5G connectivity, voice assistant, climate and music controls, a cloud-based self-check system, flight redundancy, and Level 4 ground autonomy with a detection range of over 984 feet (300 meters). The passenger cabin is designed to separate from the power unit for safety in case of malfunction. GAC targets the emerging “low-altitude economy” focused on urban air taxis and short-hop personal aircraft, positioning the Govy
electric-vertical-takeoff-and-landingeVTOLcarbon-fiber-materialselectric-vehicle-batteriesurban-air-mobilityautonomous-flight-systems5G-connectivityAIR ONE’s electric air taxi races toward first piloted flight by 2026
EDAG Group and AIR have formalized their partnership through a letter of intent to jointly develop and manufacture the AIR ONE electric air taxi, building on two years of collaboration. EDAG is responsible for producing key structural components, including folding wings, engine arms, and a modular cabin that can be reconfigured for passengers or cargo. The AIR ONE is designed in multiple variants, with a fully electric model offering about one hour of flight time and a payload capacity of 250 kilograms, while a hybrid version could extend the range up to 450 kilometers. Currently in assembly and testing, the AIR ONE features a compact design with a wingspan of 7 meters and a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). It boasts fast charging capabilities, reaching full charge in about one hour and 20%-80% charge in half that time, minimizing downtime. The cargo variant provides 70 cubic feet of space for transporting equipment such as pallets or stretchers. The $150,000 passenger edition has sold
electric-aircrafteVTOLenergy-storagehybrid-propulsionbattery-technologyelectric-mobilityaerospace-materialsTrump signs orders to encourage flying cars, counter drone threats
President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of advanced aviation technologies, including drones, flying taxis (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles or eVTOLs), and supersonic commercial jets. The orders direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enable routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone operations, deploy AI tools to expedite waiver reviews, and update integration roadmaps for drones in national airspace. Additionally, the FAA is tasked with lifting the longstanding ban on supersonic flights over U.S. land, citing advancements in noise reduction and aerospace engineering that make such travel safe and commercially viable. Trump also initiated a pilot program for eVTOL projects focusing on medical response, cargo transport, and urban air mobility. To address national security concerns, the administration established a federal task force to monitor drone activity near sensitive locations like airports and large public events, aiming to enforce laws against misuse and mitigate risks posed by disruptive drone technology. The orders emphasize reducing reliance on foreign-made drones, particularly from China, by prioritizing U.S.-manufactured drones and promoting exports to allied countries. These initiatives build on prior efforts to integrate commercial drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into various sectors, with the broader goal of fostering high-skilled job growth, enhancing emergency response capabilities, and maintaining American leadership in global aviation.
dronesflying-carseVTOLsupersonic-jetsaerospace-engineeringartificial-intelligenceurban-air-mobilityArcher’s electric aircraft takes off in first crewed runway flight
energyelectric-aircrafteVTOLaviation-technologyflight-testingsustainable-transportationelectric-vehiclesAn early Joby Aviation backer might soon be its biggest distributor in Saudi Arabia
energyelectric-aircrafteVTOLdistribution-agreementJoby-AviationSaudi-Arabiaaviation-technologyCanada firm's eVTOL becomes first to achieve full wing transition
robotIoTenergymaterialseVTOLhybrid-electricaviationArcher: Official Air Taxi Provider of the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games & Team USA in Exclusive Deal
energyeVTOLtransportationLA28Archer-AviationOlympic-GamesvertiportVertical Aerospace has a plan to capitalize on Europe’s defense tech moment
robotIoTenergyeVTOLhybrid-electricdefense-technologyaerospace