An eVTOL is a fully electric aircraft that takes off and lands by moving vertically, rather than using a runway like most commercial fliers do today. The acronym is short for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft but these vehicles have also earned the nickname air taxis. That’s because one day eVTOLs intend to be used to carry passengers over short distances, getting them to their destinations in minutes and avoiding roadway traffic. Although eVTOLs look similar to helicopters, they tend to be quieter and more sustainable. These aircrafts are still in the testing and evaluation stages and aren’t certified to take to the skies yet, but the following top eVTOL companies are developing future transportation solutions.
Top eVTOL Companies
- General Motors
- Joby Aviation
- BETA Technologies
- Archer Aviation
- Vertical Aerospace
- Eve Air Mobility
Top eVTOL Companies to Know
Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan
Electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft—flying cars, in essence—used to be the stuff of futuristic films, but today they are in the concept phase by, amongst others, General Motors Company, who makes a concept Cadillac eVTOL air taxi. This vehicle, which was unveiled in 2021, is conceived as a personal aircraft or passenger drone.
Headquarters: Santa Cruz, California
Founded in 2009, Joby Aviation has been conducting demonstration flights, prototyping and testing for its eVTOL for several years. Its ultimate goal is to get certification to offer an “electric aerial ridesharing” service. The company said its eVTOL will be capable of carrying a pilot along with four passengers and cover a maximum travel distance of 150 miles.
Headquarters: South Burlington, Vermont
BETA Technologies’ ALIA-250 aircraft is an eVTOL with a 50-foot wingspan that can carry up to five people in addition to a pilot. The company’s other electric aircraft, the CX300, is designed to take off from an airport and is expected to receive FAA certification ahead of the ALIA-250 model. BETA Technologies also produces the Charge Cube, which is able to provide power for both electric aircrafts and ground-based electric vehicles.
Headquarters: San Jose, California
Archer Aviation plans to establish an electric aerial ridesharing service as well as sell its eVTOL aircraft through partnerships with airlines and other companies. It completed the assembly of its first Midnight eVTOL aircraft, which will undergo ground testing in preparation for a test flight. That milestone is part of the company’s continued effort to pursue FAA certification to commercialize its eVTOLs.
Headquarters: Bristol, England
Vertical Aerospace is an aircraft manufacturer developing an eVTOL that it aims to get certified across the globe. The VX4 is a zero emission electric aircraft with a top speed of 200 mph, according to the company. With its ability to transport five people at a distance of over 100 miles, Vertical Aerospace is positioning the VX4 eVTOL aircraft as a solution to growing demand for transportation options, particularly in densely-populated areas.
Headquarters: Melbourne, Florida
Eve Air Mobility started as an innovation project under the Embraer-X incubator but graduated to become a standalone company. It’s building and testing an eVTOL that it claims is quieter and more cost-efficient than helicopters of a similar build. At its initial launch, the aircraft will be able to carry four passengers. Once autonomous flight is allowed, the company says its eVTOL will have the capacity to transport as many as six people.
