News of advances in urban air mobility keeps flying in with Electric Power Systems announcing a new customer, this time from Japan. SkyDrive, a self-described developer of flying cars based at Toyota City, has opted for EPS’ ‘EPiC’ battery system to power future passenger drones.
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Volkswagen Group China has unveiled a prototype eVTOL. The passenger drone is called V.MO and is nicknamed the “Flying Tiger” in a nod to its target launch market. Future series models will carry up to four people and their luggage over 200 kilometres.
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Hyundai’s air mobility subsidiary Supernal has announced cooperating with Electric Power Systems (EP Systems) to develop eVTOL batteries. The announcement was made at the Farnborough International Airshow and is Supernal’s first partnership.
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The German fuel cell aircraft developer H2FLY says it has started final preparations for the integration of liquid hydrogen tanks into the HY4 test aircraft. An intensive programme of ground tests is then scheduled to start in early 2023.
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UK engineering firm Ricardo has signed a multi-year deal with Pratt & Whitney Canada. The agreement is for the Ricardo aerospace engineering team tosupport Pratt & Whitney Canada in developing advanced hybrid-electric propulsion technologies.
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ZeroAvia has announced another $30 million in funding at the Farnborough International Airshow with new investors Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, NEOM, and AENU coming on board. The capital increase brings the Series B round to $68 million (€66.7Mn).
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Rolls-Royce and Hyundai Motor Group have announced plans today to collaborate on all-electric propulsion and hydrogen fuel cell technology in aviation. They have signed a letter of intent to deliver low-emission solutions to the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Regional Air Mobility (RAM) markets.
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Evolito, a Yasa spin-off specialising in motors and power electronics for electric flight applications, has acquired the battery specialist Electroflight. Evolito thus intends to offer its customers fully integrated powertrain and battery solutions from a single source in future.
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Zenlabs Energy has received $3.5 million from the US Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) to co-fund a two-year project focusing on electrolyte and active materials in silicon-dominant anode cells. Jet maker Lilium has licensed the technology to power its zero-emission aircraft expected in 2025.
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Aircraft manufacturer Airbus and industrial gases company Linde have signed a memorandum of understanding to work on the development of hydrogen infrastructure at airports worldwide.
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ZeroAvia, a company specialising in electric aircraft propulsion, is cooperating with Otto Aviation to develop a fuel cell propulsion system for a long-range Otto aircraft. Specifically, the ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain will be adapted for the Celera aircraft.
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ZeroAvia and Monte Aircraft Leasing will jointly market hydrogen-powered aircraft to regional operators. Under an agreement now signed between the companies, Monte will purchase up to 100 ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrains from ZeroAvia to be installed on existing and new 5- to 20-seat aircraft.
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Volocopter has completed the maiden flight of its four-seater electric aircraft VoloConnect, which was presented last year. The prototype performed various flight manoeuvres for two minutes and 14 seconds. The commercial launch of the VoloConnect is planned for 2026.
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Airbus has opened a Zero Emission Development Centre (ZEDC) for hydrogen technologies in the UK. A priority for the UK ZEDC in Filton near Bristol will be the development of a low-cost cryogenic tank.
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The start-up Vaeridion from Munich wants to build small electric aircraft with space for two pilots and nine passengers. In contrast to the numerous electric vertical take-off concepts, Vaeridion’s electric aircraft is designed to take off and land like an ordinary aeroplane.
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Bavarian electric air taxi startup Lilium has entered into a partnership with Honeywell and Denso to jointly develop and produce the electric motor for the Lilium Jet, whose market launch has been postponed to 2025.
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To advance the development of electric air transport, a number of companies, universities and research institutions as well as municipalities and organisations have joined forces to form the Air Mobility Initiative (AMI).
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In the UK, Urban-Air Port is opening “Air-One”, the showcase of a fully-operational hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles and autonomous cargo drones.
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US electric aerial vehicle developer Beta Technologies has raised US$375 million from investors in its latest Series B funding round. Beta intends to use the funds to further develop its electric aerial system.
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ZeroAvia, a company that specialises in hydrogen flights, has announced a new partnership with ZEV Station to develop green hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The companies will work together on developing a regional airport to showcase the feasibility of hydrogen-powered commercial flights.
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Japanese automakers Suzuki and SkyDrive have announced a partnership for the commercialization of flying cars. SkyDrive is a Japanese manufacturer of flying cars and is currently developing a compact, two-seating electric-powered flying car with plans for full-scale production.
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The Bavarian electric aerial taxi start-up Lilium has postponed its planned market launch by one year. Instead of 2024, the electric vertical take-off is now expected to be approved in 2025 and thus begin commercial operation.
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Hydrogen aviation company HyPoint has agreed on a deal with Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories (GTL), an aerospace engineering firm. HyPoint will integrate GTL’s ultra-light carbon tanks into its aeroplane fuel cell system, and numbers suggest the combination could dramatically increase range.
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German e-flight taxi developer Volocopter has conducted the first manned eVTOL flight in France. The flight was part of a week-long test series to evaluate noise emissions.
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The eVTOL start-up Joby Aviation has completed the first system tests and compliance checks by the Federal Aviation Administration and received the approvals. The company therefore feels that its development approach has been validated and intends to continue working on the product design.
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The US conglomerate Textron, which produces Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft, is acquiring the Slovenian electric aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel. Upon completion of the transaction, Textron plans to form a new business unit called Textron eAviation for the development of sustainable aircraft.
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Electric flight taxi developer Lilium has reached a memorandum of understanding on a far-reaching strategic partnership with business aviation company NetJets. This provides options for up to 150 Lilium aircraft for NetJets. In addition, NetJets wants to support Lilium in expanding its business in the USA and Europe.
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German electric air taxi developer Volocopter has raised €153Mn in the first signing of its Series E funding round led by South Korean investor WP Investment. Volocopter expects that the new capital will accelerate the certification of their electric passenger air cab and its launch in initial cities.
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Electric aerial taxi manufacturer Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions, a subsidiary of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, has received two orders for a total of up to 90 eVTOLs from Australia. Aviair and HeliSpirit are ordering up to 50 electric aircraft from Eve and Microflite up to 40.
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US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has invested a further $450 million in Wisk Aero, the joint venture between Kitty Hawk and Boeing to develop electric aerial taxis. The investment is intended to further the development of Wisk’s sixth-generation eVTOL and fund preparations for the start of series production.
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