Lilium placed an order for 120 chargers from Star Charge, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) charging station maker. The extra-long, liquid-cooled charging cables will provide power to the all-electric Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft, the German manufacturer announced Wednesday at the Singapore Airshow. Star Charge's chargers will support ground tests, flight trials, maintenance activities, and delivery center operations, and Lilium plans to install the charging stations at vertiports where the Lilium Jet will operate.
Having previously committed to the combined charging system (CCS) standard for fast charging—the most commonly used standard among electric aircraft and ground vehicle manufacturers—Lilium will integrate Star Charge's custom-designed, rapid-charging infrastructure to ensure compatibility with Lilium Jets and most other eVTOL models. One notable exception is Joby Aviation's eVTOL aircraft, for which that California-based company has developed its charging system and standard.
“Our partnership with Star Charge will support the Lilium Jet’s development and certification along with our customers’ ground infrastructure development. Its high performance and liquid-cooled charging cable is a unique feature, and Star Charge’s proven expertise in charging infrastructure is crucial for regional air mobility,” said Lilium CCO Sebastien Borel.
The chargers on order will incorporate extended liquid-cooled cables for enhanced charging performance, accommodating diverse landing infrastructures, Lilium said in a written statement. Lilium The adoption of Star Charge's CCS chargers is anticipated to significantly slash charging durations compared to conventional chargers lacking liquid-cooled cables. This reduction in charging times is poised to facilitate quicker turnaround times between flights and optimize Lilium Jet utilization.
“We are grateful to have received [our] first order of CCS chargers by a leading eVTOL manufacturer and look forward to commencing deliveries this year,” said Star Charge Europe CEO Ji Cheng. “We look forward to partnering with Lilium to power the next generation of mobility, offering greater time-saving benefits to passengers while considerably reducing the environmental impact of travel.”