Lilium Applies for 37 New Patents to Protect eVTOL Aircraft Technology
The European Patent Office has published 37 new patent applications from German eVTOL developer Lilium, the company said Wednesday. The patents would apply to engineering inventions spanning several domains, including energy, propulsion, structures and interior, avionics, and custom electric.
Surf Air To Fund Hybrid-Electric Fleet Conversion Plan Through Initial Public Offering
Flight booking platform Surf Air Mobility, which markets scheduled regional services and charter flights, aims to convert large numbers of Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to hybrid-electric propulsion in partnership with MagniX and AeroTec. Through a business combination with special purpose acquisition company Tuscan Holdings, it aims to raise around $467 million.
Solithor Raises Funding To Develop Solid-State Lithium Batteries for Electric Aviation
Having raised €10 million ($10.4 million) in seed funding, Solithor will step up the development of solid-state lithium batteries that it says will outperform current technology by at least 30 percent. The start-up is part of the Imec group and is operating from the EnergyVille research and development hub in Leuven, Belgium.
Overair and Urban Movement Labs Team On Air Mobility For Los Angeles
California-based eVTOL company Overair and Urban Movement Labs (UML) will start work right away on studies tied to urban air mobility infrastructure in the greater Los Angeles area under a new partnership announced Tuesday. The Urban Air Mobility Partnership will focus on community, government, and industry engagement to ensure the implementation of what Overair calls safe, equitable, convenient, and sustainable urban air mobility technology.
Microsoft Will Develop Cloud-based Platform for Urban Air Mobility Operations
The VoloIQ system being developed by eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter to support its passenger- and cargo-carrying operations will benefit from data-processing technology based on the Microsoft Azure platform. It is intended that the technology will support the company's planned transition to autonomous flight operations.
Piaggio Makes Plans for Hydrogen-Electric Business Aircraft
To prepare its next Technology Development Plan for 2023-27, Piaggio Aerospace has worked on plans for hybrid- or all-electric versions of its P180 Avanti Evo twin-turboprop business aircraft. It has concluded that only hydrogen-electric propulsion makes sense, and that will require a new, larger airframe designed from scratch.
Battery Supplier Amprius To Boost Electric Mobility Ambitions with Equity Flotation
Amprius believes its high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries could transform the performance of new electric aircraft, including eVTOL models. It is looking to raise $430 million by combining its business with a special purpose acquisition company and then going public on the New York Stock Exchange.
Ampaire Says Caravan Conversion Represents Fast-track to Viable Electric Aviation
Having parted company with prospective investor and launch customer Surf Air Mobility, Ampaire is opening the door to new investors seeking a stake in its plans to convert thousands of existing aircraft like Textron's Grand Caravan to hybrid-electric power. The company recently started ground testing its propulsion system as it prepares to start test flights in the second half of 2022.
Joby Sees No Delay to Approval of eVTOL Aircraft From FAA Rule Changes
Joby Aviation's founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt told financial analysts that reported changes to the FAA's for approving eVTOL aircraft and how they are operated will not delay anticipated service entry in 2024. The company says that it expects no change in type certification requirements, having had almost 80 percent of its means of compliance agreed by the aviation safey agency.
Hawaiian Airlines Agrees to Invest in Regent’s Monarch Seaglider
Boston-based Regent has drawn a commitment from Hawaiian Airlines to invest in and support the initial design of its 100-passenger all-electric seaglider known as the Monarch. With the equity investment, Hawaiian Airlines becomes Regent’s first U.S.-based design partner for the Monarch, which Regent projects will enter commercial service by 2028.