Story ID: 
Vertical Starts Tests with Hybrid-electric Powertrain
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: Hybrid version of Valo VTOL aircraft will have longer range and more payload
Word Count: 376
Vertical Aerospace has started testing with its Hybrid Propulsion Evaluation Rig (HYPER) as part of its work to develop a hybrid-electric version of its Valo VTOL aircraft. In a program update released on Tuesday, the UK company also said it produced the first battery manufactured at the assembly line it opened in March at the Vertical Energy Centre in Bristol.
The HYPER facility is being used to integrate and validate all the systems that will form part of the new powertrain, which consists of a turbine engine, a generator, and associated electrical systems. Testing is being conducted at Vertical’s flight test center at Cotswold Airport in the west of England.
Vertical has yet to release projected performance data for the powertrain. However, it has said it is targeting a 10-fold increase in range over the all-electric Valo, at up to around 870 nm. The company also expects to deliver a payload of up to 1,100 kilograms (2,420 pounds) that would increase the passenger count from four to six, or allow for increased cargo capacity.
According to Vertical, it is now working with several undisclosed partners to integrate a gas turbine capable of running on sustainable aviation fuel with an electric generator. While the all-electric Valo model is expected to complete type certification in 2028, the hybrid-electric version will likely not follow before 2030.
Batteries Produced In-house
The 15,000-sq-ft facility has been used for battery testing since 2024 with units that have flown on the earlier VX4 eVTOL prototype. In December 2025, Vertical announced a substantial redesign when it unveiled a model of the Valo aircraft.
Early prototypes of the batteries Vertical intends to use for production examples of the Valo will go through extensive environmental and operational testing. Some of the battery packs now being produced in-house will be installed on aircraft being used for certification test flights with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and EASA.
“Hybrid capability complements our all-electric Valo platform and unlocks a broader range of civil and defense applications,” commented Vertical CEO Stuart Simpson. “At the same time, advancing our battery technology and manufacturing capability is critical to certification and scaling production. Together, these milestones demonstrate the strength and breadth of our technology platform.”