Japan’s Nidec Motor Corporation is to develop an electric motor for Air One personal eVTOL aircraft. Israeli start-up Air has been testing an early technology demonstrator version of the two-seater since late 2022 and will now integrate the motor provided by Nidec into the first certification-conforming examples of the design, which it aims to start flight testing in the second half of this year.
Tokyo-based Nidec is already providing the electric propulsion system for Eve Air Mobility’s four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. In June 2023, the company established a joint venture called Nidec Aerospace with the Embraer spin-off to develop a portfolio of vehicle-agnostic motors for use by other manufacturers.
Announcing its alliance with Nidec last week, Air said the companies will jointly develop a motor “specifically for midsized eVTOL aircraft, ultimately filling a void in the burgeoning advanced air mobility industry.” The project is intended to deliver a motor capable of supporting flights of up to 100 miles on a single charge. The work is receiving unspecified funding from the BIRD Energy program of the BIRD Foundation (Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial R&D Foundation) to support clean energy initiatives.
Nidec has been in business for five decades and is now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of electric motors for multiple applications. “We’re excited to merge Nidec’s motor expertise and global manufacturing capabilities with Air’s revolutionary eVTOL to deliver advanced motor capabilities to the individual consumers who wish to fly,” said Nidec Aerospace CEO Vincent Braley.
Last month, Air announced that it is participating in the U.S. Air Force’s Afwerx Agility Prime program to assess potential applications for new eVTOL aircraft. The company says it now holds preorder reservations for over 1,000 Air One vehicles (at an initial base price of $150,000) and has other prospective customers on a waiting list.
Air says the vehicle will offer a range of 110 miles (177 kilometers) and a maximum speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), and its cruise speed is about 100 mph (161 km/h). It is expected to be able to fly for about one hour on a single charge and can carry a payload of 440 pounds (200 kilograms), enough for two people plus some luggage.
Having previously targeted type certification and first deliveries by the end of 2024, the company is now not projecting a specific timeline for entry into service.
