CleanTechnica Electric Air Mobility Roundup
There is just not enough time to keep up with urban air mobility (UAM) news these days. Keeping up with the stories is almost impossible. So, here is a roundup of exciting electric UAM news.
urban air mobility
Porsche & Boeing Sign An Agreement To Work On “Premium” eVTOL Aircraft
Some big news this week is that Boeing and Porsche have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to look into the “premium” electric vertical takeoff & landing (eVTOL) aircraft market. Porsche says it wants to design a premium eVTOL aircraft and Boeing has aerodynamic expertise — hence the connection. The news introduces a few key turning points with both automakers and aviation. Both of these companies are established players and are feeling the media heat from aviation and road vehicle startups. I’m excited because I’ve been waiting for the convergence of road and air for the past three years.
Is Kitty Hawk Introducing Range Anxiety For eVTOL Aircraft With Its Heaviside?
We finally heard about Kitty Hawk’s “secret project,” which sports the strange name of Heaviside. It introduces the notion of range for an electric vertical take-off & landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The demonstration of the aircraft flying is fantastic but I wonder if we’re about to witness another “range anxiety” war between eVTOL manufacturers? Let’s hope not.
Urban Air Mobility Already Has 200 eVTOL Designs
In the short space of 3 years we’ve seen urban air mobility (UAM) develop from a concept to eHang promising the first electric vertical takeoff & landing (eVTOL) air taxi service at the end of 2019. The Vertical Flight Society, which I’m privileged to also write for, just reported that it now has 200 eVTOL aircraft in its database.
New Electric Aircraft Motor Lab Aims For 1MW Electric Airplane Motor
You know a new industry is born when investments pour in and results encourage more spending. Now, a new lab, the Collins Electric Aircraft Lab, wants to offer urban air mobility (UAM) and the general electric aviation world a 1MW electric airplane motor.
Faradair Aerospace Is Taking Hybrid-Powered Flight Testing To UAM Waters
While the electric aviation industry is working on futuristic-looking electric vertical takeoff & landing (eVTOL) aircraft, more conventional electric airplanes (eCTOL) are filling different niches and needs. So, what does Faradair Aerospace have to offer with its Bio-Electric Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA) M1H?
Embraer Goes From Airplanes To Business Jets To Electric Planes & VTOL Aircraft
The Embraer fixed-wing, single-engine electric demonstrator aircraft might not look like your vision of our urban air mobility (UAM) future, but its electric conventional takeoff & landing (eCTOL) design makes it a perfect testbed. Let’s look at what Embraer is testing with the single-wing eCTOL.
CleanTechnica Special: Verdego Aero Eric Bartsch On Hybrid Electric Plane Design
I recently caught up with Eric Bartsch from VerdeGo Aero to talk about the differences between electric vertical takeoff & landing (eVTOL) aircraft and electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) aircraft. If you recall, we previously announced that VerdeGo stopped the development of its eVTOL aircraft to focus instead on designing powertrains for other eVTOL and eCTOL aircraft makers, a valuable way to enable more urban air mobility (UAM).
Embraer, Bell, Brazil, & Uber Elevate Are Shaping Our Urban Air Mobility Future
A flurry of aviation startups have challenged our current air mobility system and are introducing urban air mobility (UAM) to more people. Embraer, Bell, Brazil, & Uber Elevate are a few innovating in this fast-paced new industry.
Lilium Flirts With Biomimicry, Wins Red Dot Award
One benefit of the new wave of electric vertical take-off & landing (eVTOL) and electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) airplanes is the freedom the electric propulsion system gives designers. Airbus has a “Bird of Prey” concept that will please most Star Trek fans, and now a flying Manta Ray could grace our skies in a few years.
