New York, Sep 9 : United Airlines has announced the investment of $15 million in the electric aviation company Eve Air Mobility and will purchase 200 electric aircrafts that can accommodate four passengers.They can also fly vertically and take off, much like helicopters.This is yet another major investment by United in flying taxis also known as EVTOLs (electric vertical take-off-and-landing vehicle) which could revolutionize the experience of commuters in cities around the globe.
United agreed to sign a purchase contract with the potential of 400 eVTOL aircrafts purchased from Eve, a subsidiary of Brazilian manufacturer of aircraft Embraer.
“United is making history once more as the first major airline in history to invest publicly in two eVTOL companies.Our partnership with Eve is a sign of our confidence in the market for urban air mobility, and serves as a key benchmark towards our aim of zero net carbon emissions in 2050, without traditional offsets,” said Michael Leskinen who is the president of United Airlines Ventures.
The companies are working on small electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that could fly from rooftops to rooftops in the city’s dense population as taxi services.
As per the conditions of the contract, the parties will to collaborate on future projects, which include studies on the development use, application and use of Eve’s aircraft as well as the urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem.
“United’s commitment in Eve will increase confidence in Eve’s products and services, and further consolidates our position in the North American market,” said Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve.
With UAV, United has led the industry in investment in electric aircraft and eVTOL as well as hydrogen fuel cells as well as sustainable aviation fuel.In the last month, United gave a $10 million loan to an eVTOL company in California in exchange for the purchase of 100 aircraft.
Instead of relying on combustion engines that are traditional, eVTOL aircrafts are engineered to run on electric motors, allowing carbon-free flights .They can also be used as air taxis’ in urban markets.
Eve’s design is based on traditional fixed wings, rotors, and pushers, resulting in an efficient and user-friendly lift-plus-cruise layout, which favors safety efficiency, reliability, and certification.With an operating range of 60 miles (100 kms) the vehicle can be a great choice not only to provide a sustainable commute, but also to reduce the noise level by 90 percent as compared to the current aircraft.
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