Volocopter - a 'dark horse' in the eVTOL race

Issue #25 of Sustainability in the Air Newsletter

A piece in eVTOL Insights asks whether Volocopter is the “dark horse of the eVTOL race to early success."

Having spent the last few weeks immersed in the urban air mobility space, I think it is.

The German company has the goal of flying at the Paris Olympics, so in only two years from now.

However, what I’ve considered particularly impressive is the work Volocopter is doing in Asia. It’s the eVTOL partner of NEOM, the new smart city being built in Saudi Arabia.

And it’s also been very active in Singapore. Here, Volocopter’s internal studies show that its UAM services can generate an estimated SGD 4.18 billion (US$ 3bn) in cumulative economic benefits and create up to 1,300 local jobs by 2030.

Initially, there will be tourist flights over Marina Bay and Sentosa, then cross-border flights to Indonesia and Malaysia.

With the tests of its four-seater ‘VoloConnect’, Volocopter claims to be “the only eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) developer in the Western hemisphere to have an entire fleet of distinct aircraft configurations undergoing flight tests" (others include the two-seater VoloCity and the VoloDrone).

Look out next week for SimpliFlying’s report on the Urban Air Mobility market, where we highlight eight companies (out of the 200+ to receive VC funding), which we believe will make it through to the end. Volocopter is one of those eight.

Sustainability news

• TAP Air Portugal operates its first SAF flight (Travel Weekly)

• Airbus breaks ground on CityAirbus eVTOL test center in Germany (Aerospace Testing International)

• How Renewable Forests Could Solve A Major Electric Vehicle Problem (NASDAQ)

• Hyundai’s Supernal Establishes First eVTOL Development Partnership With EP Systems (Aviation Today)

• IATA urges airlines to expand SAF usage (Biofuels International)

• Ampaire flies longest ever nonstop hybrid-electric mission (Simple Flying)