Flying Taxi Company Partners to Develop Advanced Motor Systems

Chinese flying taxi company EHang Holdings has signed a long-term strategic partnership with 

Zhuhai Enpower Electric to co-develop high-performance electric motors for the EHang eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicles.

The two companies plan to create customized electric motor drive systems for the EHang electric aerial vehicles (EAV).

The partnership aims to improve the performance of the EHang fleet of EAVs, using the Enpower technology to refine the design of electric motors and motor controllers “with lighter weight, higher power density, superior cooling performance and broader compatibility across EHang’s eVTOL models,” according to the company.

“At EHang, we are committed to realizing urban air mobility,” said Huazhi Hu, EHang founder, chairman and CEO. “This strategic partnership with Enpower not only validates our vision but also provides the necessary impetus for our goals. Together, we will redefine the future of transportation, making it safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly. We look forward to the collaboration with more partners from upstream and downstream in the UAM sector and the achievements that lie ahead.”

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EHang recently conducted its first passenger flights in Thailand as it works to set up commercial flight operations there.

Flights in the EHang EH216-S pilotless eVTOL were conducted at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in central Bangkok. 

EHang received permission for the flights from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, and the EAV maker plans to conduct flight tests in Thailand and launch commercial operations in the regions of Phuket and Koh Samui by 2025.

As part of its mission of expanding urban air mobility (UAM), EHang made several passenger flights.

Traditional water transportation methods around the many islands of Thailand can be time-consuming. The EHang flying vehicles would be used for island-hopping services, according to the company.

EHang recently partnered with the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) to collaborate to develop and train operator and maintenance staff for large civil urban aerial vehicles (UAV).

The university, created by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the government of Sichuan Province, develops pilot licensing frameworks and specializes in regulations and standards for UAV operators.

EHang has obtained three airworthiness certificates from the CAAC for its pilotless eVTOL.

EHang and its local partners have carried out more than 50,000 flights in 17 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America, according to the company.

The air taxi company even test flew its EAV in Brazil, in partnership with local operator Gohobby Future Technologies.

EHang and Gohobby plan to conduct test flight campaigns with Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency and Brazil’s Airspace Control Department. 

EHang had received approval for flight tests, allowing the company to test and demonstrate its intelligent flight technology and cluster management system.

The exercises are intended to advance development concepts involving unmanned aircraft traffic management systems for efficient UAM deployments across Brazil using the EHang eVTOL.

EHang has received its Type Certificate, Production Certificate and Standard Certificate of Airworthiness for the EH216-S from the CAAC.

The company recently delivered 10 of its $410,000 eVTOLs to the Taiyuan Xishan Ecological Tourism Investment Construction Co. for local tourism, following a demonstration flying with passengers on board. 

The flying vehicles can carry two passengers and fly autonomously.

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 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.

EHang also has 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 aims to use the EAV for travel services.

EHang also has 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 includes the development of use cases for pilotless eVTOLs, which could include inter-island cargo transportation, emergency response and medical rescue transportation services.

EHang delivered 27 flying vehicles to Wencheng County Transportation Development Group in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, as part of a deal to sell 300 EAVs to the tourism development group.

EHang carried multiple passengers in low-altitude, sightseeing tours over Tianding Lake at the Baizhangji Fall and Feiyun Lake Scenic Resort, providing views of the general Wencheng area.

The flying taxi also has made autonomous flights in Saudi Arabia, flying in Mecca in conjunction with Front End Limited Company.

In Saudi Arabia, EHang is supported by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the Ministry of Hajj and the Ministry of Interior.

EHang took its first passenger for a demonstration ride in Abu Dhabi, a passenger flight that followed demonstrations of the EAV conducted without passengers at the DriftX mobility expo in Abu Dhabi.

The EAV maker joined the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries Cluster in Abu Dhabi and formed a partnership with Wings Logistics Hub, a passenger eVTOL subsidiary of Technology Holding Company.

EHang also has flown a group of 12 EAVs together in China. In a video, the 12 flying vehicles took off together from an airfield in Hefei, China, on what appeared to be a snowy day.