BBC World News and numerous other media announced plans to construct an ‘electric flying taxi factory’ near Sao Paulo, Brazil. This information, released on July 21, 2023 came as something of a surprise, since the concept had slipped away from the headlines for a while. We introduce the Embraer electric air taxi project to our followers in this post, including information about the battery, propulsion, and propeller suppliers.
Unpacking the Embraer Electric Air Taxi
Brazilian-based Embraer is the world’s third largest producer of civil aircraft, after Boeing and Airbus according to Wikipedia. Subsidiary Eve Air Mobility will be responsible for the project, having been founded in 2020 to develop the new aircraft. The flying vehicle will follow the same vertical-take-off-and-landing principles as others before it envisaged.
The helicopter-like fuselage will accommodate six passengers, each of whom will pay $50 to $100 per one-way trip. Eve says it already has orders for almost 3,000 air taxis, so interest in the 100% electric vehicle is clearly there.
The vertical-take-off-and-landing Embraer electric air taxi will feature two large pusher-propellers at the rear, plus four pairs of smaller, vertical lift propellers attached to the fixed wing. The plan is to provide a smooth, quiet service that does not require runways on arrival and departure.
More Details of the Propulsion Components
On June 16 2023, Embraer announced that Japanese electric motor specialist Nidec would provide the electric propulsion systems. We understand they are forming a new joint venture, Nidec Aerospace to design and manufacture them.
On June 18 2023, Flight Global announced that Eve Air Mobility had appointed BAE Systems to provide batteries for the air taxi. And that French company Duc Helices would supply rotors for the aircraft’s eight lift motors and two cruise propellers.
Eve hopes to begin assembling the first prototype later in 2023. And to complete the first test flight in 2024. Their over-arching goal is an aircraft that enables customers “to operate safely and efficiently with the lowest cost of operation”.
More Information
Sourcing Future Batteries – Things to Ponder
