Electric aircraft manufacturer Eve has unveiled its full-scale prototype of a "flying taxi" for the first time, marking a significant milestone as the company targets certification and service entry by 2026. Controlled by Embraer, Eve presented its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype at an event attended by investors and clients at Embraer's Gaviao Peixoto plant in Brazil on July 3.
Eve is among several global startups developing battery-powered aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, designed to transport passengers on short city trips, bypassing traffic. CEO Johann Bordais announced at the event that the prototype is expected to take flight by the end of this year or early 2025, following initial ground tests in July. The first non-conforming prototype features electric engines but lacks a cabin or pilot; the final version will accommodate four passengers and a pilot.
Bordais explained that the remote-controlled prototype will enable testing of aerodynamics and transition flights from vertical to horizontal modes, crucial steps towards aircraft certification expected by 2026. Eve applied for certification with Brazil's civil aviation regulator in 2022. By next year, Eve plans to have five conforming prototypes ready and a pre-series eVTOL by 2026 as part of the certification process.
Bordais emphasized the significance of these tests, noting the challenges at the forefront of technology and aeronautics. He also highlighted the global power grid's unpreparedness for flying cars, from electricity supply to vertical take-off and landing ports. Eve went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2022, raising nearly $400 million for its eVTOL development, originally budgeted at $540 million, and later secured a $92-million loan from Brazil's BNDES.
Investors in Eve include United Airlines, BAE Systems, Thales, Rolls-Royce, Acciona, and Bradesco BBI. Recently, the company announced an additional $94 million in fundraising, with contributions from Embraer and Japan's Nidec, a key supplier. Bordais expressed confidence in sustaining product development until 2027, meeting Eve's cash needs through the certification process. Eve has accumulated nearly 3,000 potential orders ahead of production, with interest from clients like United Airlines, Global Crossing, and Azorra.
