The ePlane Company, a startup based in Chennai, aims to finalize the development of a certified prototype for a flying electric taxi by March of the upcoming year, as it works towards alleviating urban congestion. Born out of incubation at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, the company also plans to introduce its drones capable of carrying a payload of 2-6 kilograms initially in the upcoming months, as per a senior executive.
Founder and CEO of The ePlane Company, Satya Chakravarthy, stated that they are in the process of creating an eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. Initially, it will be designed as a three or four-seater aircraft that can be transformed into an air ambulance.
“We aim to have the first certifiable prototype developed by March next year. Obtaining certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will likely take another couple of years,” Chakravarthy informed PTI.
According to the startup’s website, an ePlane could cover a distance in just 14 minutes, which would typically take 60 minutes by a personal vehicle. The company’s objective is to alleviate urban congestion with the use of eVTOLs.
Furthermore, The ePlane Company is actively working on developing drones, which are expected to be launched commercially in the coming months.
Initially, they plan to introduce drones in two categories: basic and enhanced. Chakravarthy mentioned that both types of drones, capable of carrying payloads ranging from 2-6 kilograms and up to 50 kilograms, will have a flight range of 40-60 kilometers.
Meanwhile, InterGlobe Enterprises and US-based Archer Aviation have announced plans to introduce an all-electric air taxi service in India by 2026, offering passengers a seven-minute ride from Connaught Place in New Delhi to Gurugram in Haryana.
InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, will procure 200 eVTOL aircraft from Archer Aviation, each capable of carrying four passengers and a pilot.
The European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has drafted regulations for eVTOL aircraft.
“Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (EVTOL) aircraft provide rapid travel within cities without requiring significant ground infrastructure, which has the potential to decrease congestion, noise, and emissions. Despite challenges such as safety concerns and regulatory complexities, EVTOLs could become commonplace in urban skies within the next 5 to 10 years, pending the resolution of safety and regulatory issues,” states the EASA website.
