Flying Taxi Company Delivers Pilotless Vehicles for Tourism

Air taxi company EHang Holdings in China has delivered 10 of its flying vehicles to be used for low-altitude tourism.

EHang delivered the EH216-S pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL) to the Taiyuan Xishan Ecological Tourism Investment Construction Co.

The delivery followed a demonstration with the electric aerial vehicles (EAV) flown with passengers on board. The flying vehicles can carry two passengers and fly autonomously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UTv9jUTiPA&t=6s

“The Civil Aviation Administration of China has officially accepted our application for the EH216-S Air Operator Certificate which is a major breakthrough for the global eVTOL industry,” said Zhao Wang, chief operating officer of EHang.

“As we delivered EH216-S and completed debut passenger-carrying flights in Taiyuan, we will work together with Xishan Tourism in establishing a benchmark for low-altitude economy in the region, gradually rolling out this innovative technology across North China and bringing a new aerial flight experience to more people and making UAM accessible to the public.”

EHang also featured its VT-30 long-range pilotless EH216-F for firefighting use and the EH216-L for logistics use.

The firefighting vehicle was showcased at the Driftx in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. It has rockets on top to break windows during a high-rise fire and a large nozzle protruding from the front to deliver fire retardant liquid from a tank at the bottom of the craft.

Related:Flying Taxi Startup Expands Into Hong Kong

EHang recently signed an agreement with one of Hong Kong’s largest transportation companies to promote the operation of EHang’s eVTOL in Hong Kong, Macau and other cities in China.

The agreement with KC Smart Mobility Company, a subsidiary of KCBH, aims to use the EHang EH216-S pilotless electric aerial vehicle (EAV) for travel services.

EHang has also signed an agreement with China Southern Airlines General Aviation Company to create operation demonstration sites for low-altitude tourism and flight services.

The companies plan to create sites for flying EHang’s EAVs at Zhuhai Jiuzhou Airport and the Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.

That partnership agreement also includes the development of use cases for pilotless eVTOL vehicles, which could include inter-island cargo transportation, emergency response and medical rescue transportation services.