Electric aircraft manufacturer Eve, a subsidiary of Embraer, has unveiled a full-size electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi prototype called Eve Air Mobility. The new product was presented at the air show held last weekend in Farnborough, England.
Image source: newatlas.com
The presentation of the air taxi prototype is an important step for Eve, which intends to undergo the necessary certification by 2026 and launch a commercial service using its air taxis. At the same time, Eve announced that it had raised $94 million in funding, in addition to the $492 million it had previously received. This will allow the company to launch mass production of Air Mobility and strengthen its position in the market until at least 2027.
As for the Air Mobility prototype itself, its design includes eight propellers that provide vertical takeoff, as well as a propeller in the rear of the body to ensure movement in the horizontal plane after gaining altitude. The equipment also includes two electric motors, due to which the developers were able to achieve a high level of performance and reliability of the system. Air Mobility is designed for flights up to 100 km and can carry up to four passengers and one pilot.
According to available data, the prototype presented at the air show is not intended to carry passengers. It will be controlled remotely during flight tests, which Eve plans to begin before the end of the summer. The manufacturer did not provide information about the flight range and speed of movement of the prototype. Probably, more detailed characteristics of Air Mobility will become known after a series of test flights.
Note that Eve’s parent company, Brazil-based Embraer, has been manufacturing aircraft for 55 years and is one of the largest manufacturers of civil aircraft in the world. In the future, Eve plans to produce 480 Air Mobility units per year, using four enterprises of equal productivity in the Brazilian city of Taubate. According to the company, it has already received orders for the production of 2,900 air taxis.