A nine-seat regional aircraft from the Californian manufacturer Ampaire with a hybrid-electric drive system has completed its maiden flight. The Eco Caravan, based on a Cessna Grand Caravan, has a hybrid propulsion system from Ampaire with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
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Archer Aviation has presented the series eVTOL Midnight. The air taxi that vertically takes off and lands offers space for one pilot and four passengers, not unlike the prototype Maker. Other spec has changed, however, yet an ambitious production schedule remains.
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California’s eVTOL startup Archer has selected a site in Georgia to install its first factory in Covington, near an airfield. The United Airlines partner targets making 650 flying cabs a year from 2024 and increasing capacity significantly within ten years.
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The Australian scheduled and charter airline Northern Territory Air Services (NTAS) has signed a letter of intent with Eviation Aircraft for the purchase of 20 electric aircraft. The aircraft in question is the nine-seat Alice model.
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French startup VoltAero has raised another 32 million euros in capital. The Italian company Tesi (Tecnologie E Servizi Innovativi) became a strategic investor and industrial partner in the Series B financing round.
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Bavarian electric flight taxi startup Lilium has signed a preliminary agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Saudia airline to supply 100 units of its all-electric Lilium Jet. However, it is not yet a binding order.
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Swedish electric aircraft developer Heart Aerospace has signed a memorandum of understanding with Portuguese airline Sevenair for the sale of three units of its ES-30 hybrid-electric regional aircraft unveiled in September.
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Electric aircraft manufacturer Eviation Aircraft has received a letter of intent from Germany for 25 battery-electric feeder aircraft. Evia Aero, which is developing a sustainable regional airline, intends to use Eviation’s Alice electric aircraft.
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An electric aircraft called e-Sling has managed its maiden flight at Dübendorf airfield in Switzerland. Developed by students at ETH Zurich, the four-seater plane with roots in Africa carries a unique propulsion system designed in Zurich, enabling battery swaps during stopovers.
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Electric aircraft face many hurdles before taking off. Technological challenges of weight versus range are better known, yet e-planes must be certifiably safe. Guest author Vance Hilderman helps newcomers steer through the turbulence of certifying and points out air pockets in regulation.
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Boeing-backed air-taxi company Wisk Aero has unveiled the Gen-6, an autonomous four-seater aircraft. Wisk says the eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft) is market-ready and can now apply for type certification by the FAA, the US Department of Transport Federal Aviation Authority.
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Eviation Aircraft has launched the all-electric Alice, which has just completed its maiden flight in Washington. The technology demonstrator will help Eviation prepare for commercial production with clients like DHL Express already in line.
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The Japanese company SkyDrive shows the design of its electric aerial taxi SD-05, which is currently under development and is to be used at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. The SD-05 is a two-seater, electrically powered air taxi designed for flights up to about ten kilometres.
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The Swedish electric aircraft developer Heart Aerospace has presented the ES-30, a hybrid-electric regional aircraft for up to 30 passengers. The ES-30 is to be operational from 2028 and achieve a purely electric range of 200 kilometres. A launch customer is already onboard.
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United plans to buy up to 500 electric air taxis. The US airline has not only invested 15 million dollars in the manufacturer Eve Air Mobility, but has also signed a purchase agreement for 200 air taxis – including an option for another 200. Deliveries are to begin in 2026.
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With increasing fuel prices and climate change, the aviation industry is having to look at life after fossil fuels but is facing a particularly tough challenge – passenger aircraft needs to be light and very safe, and what about longer distances? We asked aviation insiders where hydrogen fits in.
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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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