For years, venture capitalists and tech bros have burned through billions of dollars promising us flying electric cars. We have all seen the slick CGI videos of battery-powered air taxis whisking executives over gridlocked highway traffic. Yet, while Silicon Valley was busy chasing vaporware, a quiet electric aviation revolution actually … [continued]
The #1 battery maker in the world, CATL, has developed a battery for use in electric aircraft — in particular, for passenger eVTOL aircraft (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). The battery has now passed an important safety test. The company intentionally triggered two adjacent cells and that didn’t lead … [continued]
Chatgpt generated illustration showing the tension between certification cost curves and urban air mobility scale.
The question around electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aka Jetsons air taxi certification has shifted. It is no longer about whether regulators will create a pathway. Both the FAA and EASA have done that work. The FAA finalized powered lift operational rules in 2024 and published Advisory Circular 21.17-4 … [continued]
Zhejiang Airspace Integration Low-Altitude Industry Development Company just placed an order of 18 AS700 manned airships from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) last November 18. This deal, one of the largest modern acquisitions of manned lighter-than-air vehicles, marks a milestone in China’s air travel industry. CleanTechnica picked up … [continued]
A new showcase for green hydrogen fuel cell flight is taking shape, towards the goal of a nine-day, nonstop, zero emission flight around the world in 2028.
For the most part, we treat electric aviation like it’s something that we’ll see in the future. I mean, batteries are expensive and heavy, and they don’t hold that much energy per unit of weight. So, compared to, say, kerosene (jet fuel), batteries take up a lot more space and … [continued]
Polestar 3, a luxury SUV from the well known EV brand, is now being manufactured in South Carolina. This is Polestar’s first offering made in the United States. Elsewhere, Kindred Motorworks presents the zero-emissions vintage Bronco. With modern all-electric torque and efficiency use of energy, one can enjoy that vintage … [continued]
Archer plans to launch the network in Los Angeles to replace one-to-two-hour drives with 10-20 minute electric flights Archer’s planned network includes take-off and landing locations at Los Angeles International Airport, University of Southern California, Orange County, Santa Monica, Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach and Van Nuys Archer is also coordinating … [continued]
So much cleantech news, so little time. Here are more cleantech stories from the past week you might want to read. The Volkswagen ID.4 is a popular vehicle among American and European families. However, Volkswagen has introduced the avant-garde E-SUV coupé, the ID. UNYX, to China, targeting a younger demographic … [continued]
SpaceX knows a thing or two about flying, and the company apparently had enough faith in Alef Aeronautics to invest in the flying car startup. Does that mean the startup will succeed? Certainly not. However, it makes my ears perk up a lot more than they would for a flying … [continued]
