2024 is shaping up to be a huge milestone year for the development, showcasing and certification of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
If this is a new concept for you - think about the way in which drones and helicopters take off, fly, hover and land vertically, without the need of a runway. Powered entirely by electric, eVTOL aircraft are known colloquially as flying, or air, taxis. While traditional aeroplanes require purpose-built airports and helicopter services are expensive…it’s envisaged that eVTOLs will offer a happy medium to solve both problems.
We’re looking forward to the Summer Olympic Games in Paris where there are exciting plans to fly the public to locations around the city in eVTOL aircrafts. Following this we’re keen to note there are similar strategies in place for the Osaka World Expo in Japan in 2025.
These bold showcases will encourage a lift-off for this futuristic technology at a time in which aviation organisations around the world are establishing guidelines for its use. While the tech seems to be in a ready state, it’s this complex and laborious process of convincing the regulators of its safety that could hinder certification and dampen the gung-ho desire that many have for a more immediate eVTOL future. Factors such as where to land, and how to alleviate noise pollution, will all play their part in the discussions.
However, last year we saw some major progress with the first eVTOL aircraft taking flight in New York City. This public flight demonstration of Joby Aviation’s pre-production prototype aircraft at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport was a big success and was followed by a similar demonstration by Volocopter’s 2X prototype. Their demonstration was so successful that Joby has just announced an agreement to install the first electric air taxi chargers in the greater New York City region.
Other projects that we are keeping an eye on include the work of Hyundai’s air taxi division, which brought a flying cab to the 2023 CES, with expectations that its four-passenger eVTOL will begin testing next year and could be ready to fly by 2028. It’s an exciting prospect with its eight tilting rotors, promised speeds of up to 120 mph and on-board high-density battery packs that can support journeys of between 25 and 40 miles.
Towards the end of 2023, through our regular CMC EV and eVTOL news roundup, we reported on the headlines that Eve Air Mobility had partnered with Flexjet for Urban Air Mobility simulation. This brought together EVEs Urban Air Traffic Management Solution (Urban ATM) for UAM vehicles operating in low-level airspace including Flexjet’s UK helicopter division; all of this in a bid to dramatically improve the affordability and accessibility of urban flight for communities and to transform the future of urban transportation. This all brings potential for quieter, cleaner and more efficient air services for passengers closer to fruition. We also covered the news from Lilium that EASA had received design organisation approval for eVTOL aircraft. The award marked a major milestone, positioning the company at the forefront of the industry, with the authorisation to hold a type certificate for eVTOL aircraft in Europe.
It was also in late 2023 that we reported on the news that Electra had completed their successful first flight of EL-2 "Goldfinch" hybrid electric eSTOL (Electric Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. The two seat Goldfinch eSTOL technology demonstrator was the world’s first blown lift aircraft using a distributed electric propulsion and hybrid electric propulsion system. Electra will develop a prototype of a full scale pre-production EL aircraft under a previously announced strategic funding partnership valued up to $85M through the US air force Agility Prime Programme. The full scale Goldfinch commercial FAA certification is not expected until 2028.
Through our roundup this year we covered the unveiling of Supernal SA-2 concept aircraft. The SA-2 aircraft is a four-passenger vehicle and marks the latest milestone in Supernal's road map to commercialise affordable everyday passenger air travel.
Other headlines that have grabbed our attention of late include more news from Joby Aviation, who have partnered with Clay Lacy Aviation to install Southern California's first electric taxi charger at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. The installation of electric infrastructure to support Joby's electric aviation charging system comes as part of Clay Lacy's planned $100 million redevelopment of its fixed paced operating terminal at SNA, targeting completion mid-2025. Another story to note is the move by Horizon Aircraft to enter into a letter of intent with JetSetGo India to purchase 50 Cavorite X7 aircrafts priced at $5 million each, with the option to purchase an additional 50 for a total possible consideration of $500 million.
Looking ahead, the developments are coming in thick and fast! Industry experts have suggested that Volocopter, the German aircraft manufacturer, will soon be the first Western manufacturer to certify an eVTOL aircraft. It’s also expected that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will issue a type inspection authorisation to Joby for its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft later in the year, enabling it to secure test flights towards commercial operation flights in 2025. Other exciting predictions include the construction of the world’s first purpose built veriport for cargo flights later this year.
The challenges
While everyone in the industry is excited to envisage future skies containing only electric and eVTOL planes, there’s a lot of work to do and it could take decades before this ambition is realised.
Experts tell us that there will be a staged approach. Firstly we will see the smaller eVTOL aircrafts transporting goods or carrying passengers in city centre locations. Within a couple of years we can then expert to see these eVTOL aircraft taking off from purpose built landing sites. The next big step would be smaller, regional journeys, before the final goal of long haul electrified flights become the norm.
At every stage in this journey there will be a huge amount of work involved in certifying flights and keeping passengers and the public safe. This is important now in terms of the right regulation for traffic routes and landing sites that doesn’t impede growth, but does offer protection from potential collisions, particularly given that many of these electric aircraft will fly autonomously.
From a purely technical perspective there are also challenges to overcome with regards to the weight of the batteries themselves, often in the thousands of kilograms, impacting upon efficiency. To truly overtake traditional combustion powered flight we will need to see improved power efficiency; which is still much lower than the energy contained within jet fuel.
Ambitious plans need the skills and commitment of experienced experts from across the engineering landscape, and that’s where CMC comes in. Our huge virtual workbench includes experts with backgrounds across the Advanced Engineering landscape, allowing us to deliver amazing success stories for our eVTOL partners.
It’s clear that 2024 will be an exciting and intense time of testing of technologies, routes being planned and deals being secured. With the likes of Boeing, Airbus, Textron, and Embraer already effectively having eVTOL divisions or investments, we’re expecting more huge announcements for eVTOL in the months and years to come!
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