By March next year, India is poised to get its first-ever electric air taxi, a groundbreaking development that holds the promise of alleviating the prevalent issue of urban congestion.
The ePlane Company, a Chennai-based startup, is working on developing a certifiable prototype of a flying electric taxi called ‘ePlane e200’.
The company is developing compact e-aircraft that take off like a drone but fly like a plane by utilising a VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) technology.
Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra Group, recently verified the news by sharing images of a prototype developed by the ePlane Company, an initiative of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
The company also aims to initially commercialise its drones that can carry a payload of 2–6 kilograms in the coming months, according to a senior executive.
Satya Chakravarthy, the founder and CEO of ePlane Company, announced the development of an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. Initially, the aircraft will be designed as a three- or four-seater plane that can later be converted into an air ambulance.
“The initial certifiable prototype is anticipated to be completed by March next year. It will require another couple of years to obtain certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),” Chakravarthy, who is also a faculty at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras, said.
As per the startup’s website, the initiative intends to alleviate congestion in urban spaces by offering accessible, affordable, and sustainable flying experiences to people around the world. “In essence, to make flying ubiquitous,” it adds.
The ePlane will require just 14 minutes to reach a place, a journey that would typically take 60 minutes by personal vehicle and 27 minutes by helicopter, the company claims on its website.
The ePlane Company, headquartered in Chennai, is among the select few firms globally that have successfully developed flying taxis.
The startup, established by Prof Satya Chakravarthy, is expected to commence its inaugural passenger flight by 2025.
On the commercial front, the company is set to start its logistics flight either by the end of 2023 or in early 2024.
The firm has extensively flown and tested its smallest prototype, ‘e6’, a small fixed-wing drone designed to transport up to 6kg of payload over extended distances. This model is meant for surveillance and delivery services.
According to Chakravarthy, the company is also in the process of developing drones that are anticipated to be commercialsed in the coming months. Its initial plan is to come out with a standard category, followed by an upgraded category of drones.
“The drones, which come in two sets with payloads ranging from 2–6 kg and up to 50 kg, will have the capability to fly up 40-60 kilometers,” he said.
ePlane holds India’s first ever ‘e50’ flight test
Chennai-based startup ePlane Company, which is working on developing India’s first eVTOL air taxi, undertook flight testing of its prototype aircraft recently.
The company recently released a video showcasing its ‘e50’ prototype aircraft executing a flawless vertical takeoff and seamless transition to forward flight. This unmanned fixed-wing aircraft, operated remotely from the ground via a remote control, boasts dimensions similar to those of a compact car, measuring 3 meters in both length and width. The company plans to develop a larger aircraft to ferry passengers and cargo in the near future.
Prof Chakravarthy, founder and CEO of ePlane Company, mentioned that the ‘e50’ prototype is a smaller version of the upcoming drone taxi ‘e200’. The initial test flight of ‘e50’ provided valuable insights into design, assembly, flight controller behavior, and more. As a result, the development timeline for ‘e200’ has been expedited.
Air taxi specifications:
- Aircraft type: eVTOL air taxi and air cargo service
- Piloting: Pilot will operate it initially; once autonomous technology is introduced, the aircraft will transition to being autonomous.
- Max capacity: 2 passengers
- Cruise speed: 150-200 km/h (93-124 mph)
- Cruise altitude: 457 meters (1,500 ft)
- Power source: Batteries
- Maximum payload: 200 kg (441 lb)
- Safety features: The ePlane is set to feature a Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) system, allowing for multiple propellers and motors on board. In the event of a motor or propeller failure, the remaining operational motors and propellers will ensure a safe landing. Should there be insufficient power for a vertical landing, the aircraft can still land conventionally like a plane.
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