Electric air taxis are coming to disrupt the future of short distance travel. And now, EHang Holdings is building new technology for electric air taxis to operate complete autonomously.
What’s happening:
- EHang Holdings (NASDAQ: EH) has successfully completed the first test flight of their EH216-S electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that is capable of operating without a pilot in Brazil
Why it matters:
- This is the first ever successful test flight for a electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed by EHang Holdings that was completed fully autonomously, which represents a major technology breakthrough
- Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft hold enormous promise for decarbonizing the future of transportation, especially in major urban cities where short distance travel could seamlessly be replaced by electric air travel
By the numbers:
- EHang has successfully completed more than 50,000 different flights with their electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in 17 different countries around the world
- Over 700 individual patents have been granted around EHang Holdings urban air mobility technology within China
Going deeper:
- EHang’s fleet of different electric takeoff and landing aircraft are currently being used for multiple purposes, including short range regional travel, logistics transportation in rural areas and even emergency response
- China has been embracing EHang Holdings fleet of aircraft, with major partnerships already being announced in large cities such as Shenzen, Hefei, Wuxi and more
- Electric air taxi companies have been getting much closer to significant adoption lately, with Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) recently applying to be the first licensed operator of electric air taxis in the UAE and Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) previously entering into a deal with Southwest Airlines to build out an electric air taxi regional airport network within California
