Evolito Will Supply Propulsion Units for Vertical eVTOL Aircraft

Vertical Aerospace has selected Evolito to supply the electric propulsion units for its Valo eVTOL aircraft. Under an agreement announced on Thursday, Evolito will provide lightweight electric motors and DAL-A power electronics integrated into the electric motors that drive the aircraft’s four fixed rotors and four tilting propellers.

The two UK companies will jointly certify the propulsion system with the country’s Civil Aviation Authority. Oxford-based Evolito joins other Valo program partners including Honeywell, Aciturri, and Syensqo, with Vertical making its own batteries.

At the Singapore Airshow on February 5, Vertical also signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian private aviation group JetSetGo, which intends to buy up to 50 of the six-seat Valo aircraft. The operator said it will conduct market research and operational planning for urban and short-haul regional routes in India, which in some cases might be suited to the longer-range, higher-payload, hybrid-electric aircraft that Vertical plans to develop.

In January 2025, JetSetGo announced a similar partnership with Eve Air Mobility, which is developing the four-passenger Eve-100 eVTOL. The company, which has a fleet of 10 business jets, has also made provisional agreements with other aircraft developers including Japan’s SkyDrive, Horizon in Canada, and Overair.

“From an operator’s standpoint, aircraft capability and certification timelines are decisive factors,” said JetSetGo founder and CEO Kanika Tekriwal. “We are seeing early indicators of demand on specific city pairs and intra-city corridors.”

The initial Valo model is expected to have a range of up to 87 nm and a cruise speed of 130 knots. Vertical is aiming to achieve UK and EASA type certification in 2028.

When Vertical started work on its eVTOL design, Rolls-Royce was expected to provide the electric propulsion system, but the UK engine maker subsequently closed this part of its business and had to compensate Vertical for the disruption. Evolito was spun out of automotive electric motor specialist Yasa, which was acquired by Mercedes-Benz.

Evolito will also provide propulsion units for the hybrid-electric aircraft that Vertical aims to start flight testing in mid-2026 with a target range of around 261 nm. In December, Vertical unveiled the Valo with several design changes based on experience with its VX4 prototype and input from customers.

During 2026, Vertical’s engineering team is expected to complete the Valo’s critical design review. The company will start building the first of seven prototypes, with five intended for test flights and two for ground tests.