EHang has conducted a flight trial with a cargo-carrying version of its uncrewed VT-20 eVTOL aircraft. On August 1, the Chinese manufacturer reported that the vehicle completed a round-trip delivery mission between the cities of Zhuhai and Guangzhou, covering a distance of just over 45 nm in 55 minutes.
The flight was conducted on July 30 during the Wanshan Archipelago Low-Altitude Integrated Application Conference in partnership with Wanyi Tianxia (Zhuhai) Aviation, a joint venture between EHang, Zhuhai Wanshan Development Group, and Feixing Tianxia (Zhuhai) Technology.
Taking off from the UAV Logistics Operations Hub at Tangjiagang Port in Zhuhai, the VT-20 carried fresh seafood to the EHang Future City Suigang Port in Guangzhou. Then the aircraft made another flight carrying medical testing samples from the Yunkang Da’an Laboratory back to Zhuhai.
According to the partners, the aircraft completed the first flight 40 minutes faster than if the trip had been made by road. They said this would have increased to 60 minutes during peak-hour congestion in these busy urban areas.
EHang has developed the VT-20 as a follow-on product to the EH216-S eVTOL air taxi that has recently commenced operations in several Chinese cities. The company is also working on a larger, longer-range model called the VT-30.
Local government leaders are eager to develop new eVTOL air services covering aerial tourism, marine “ranching,” and transportation to island communities. “The low-altitude economy is emerging as a strategic focal point for the next wave of industrial development,” said Juan Li, director of the Zhuhai Wanshan District Administrative Committee. “Wanshan district is accelerating efforts to build up a national leading demonstration zone for integrated low-altitude applications in island regions. We’re building maritime infrastructure, expanding aerial corridors and a low-altitude network across the [Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau] Greater Bay Area.”