Photo: EHang
The Chinese pilotless eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) EH216-S is gearing up for aerial sightseeing and public transportation operations in Shenzen, China.
The rapid development of new-generation flying machines, from drones to air taxis and flying cars, has shaped an emerging economy sector that keeps growing. It's the so-called "low-altitude economy," which refers to all the economic activities taking place in an airspace of up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above ground. This includes manufacturing, flight operations, and all the integrated services that rely on drones, electric air taxis, cargo eVTOLs, and flying cars, whether piloted or unmanned.
China is already looking like one of the leading actors in the global low-altitude economy. By 2022, its low-altitude economy sector was worth more than $350 million and is estimated to double by 2025. In the vast market that is China, Shenzen plays a leading role. Last year, this was the Chinese city with the largest number of operating cargo drones (600,000 drones were flown in 2023).
It's no surprise, therefore, that the Shenzen municipality is also starting to build a pioneering eVTOL hub. This UAM (Urban Air Mobility) operation city will be located in the Luohu District, more specifically, the Luohu Sports and Leisure Park. This is a park known for its natural resources and gorgeous landscapes, which makes it an ideal setting for aerial sightseeing onboard a zero-emission eVTOL.
This operating center will be more than a simple vertiport. It will integrate complex infrastructure for unmanned eVTOL operations, including a command-and-control center plus all the typical passenger facilities. It's one of the first in the UAM industry to be dedicated to unmanned, passenger-carrying operations, with a focus on aerial tourism. According to EHang, this new center is set to be completed as soon as this year, which means unmanned eVTOL flights could kick off by 2025.
EHang is the Luohu District's partner in this trailblazing project. The EH216-S is the eVTOL that will conduct pilotless tourist flights as part of the project. After the recent signing ceremony, one of the local officials (Defan Fan, secretary of the Luohu District Committee) experienced this type of flight first-hand.
The EH216-S is not only an innovative pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL but also became the first one of its kind globally to obtain a type certificate and standard airworthiness certificate. It happened last year, and it was a huge milestone not just for the Chinese eVTOL maker but also for the industry as a whole. With this new center set to be completed in 2024, the EH216-S might become the first pilotless commercial air taxi to start regular operations.
This two-seat eVTOL is a short-distance electric aircraft designed for a 30 km (18.6 miles) range and a top speed of 130 kph (80 mph).
China is already looking like one of the leading actors in the global low-altitude economy. By 2022, its low-altitude economy sector was worth more than $350 million and is estimated to double by 2025. In the vast market that is China, Shenzen plays a leading role. Last year, this was the Chinese city with the largest number of operating cargo drones (600,000 drones were flown in 2023).
It's no surprise, therefore, that the Shenzen municipality is also starting to build a pioneering eVTOL hub. This UAM (Urban Air Mobility) operation city will be located in the Luohu District, more specifically, the Luohu Sports and Leisure Park. This is a park known for its natural resources and gorgeous landscapes, which makes it an ideal setting for aerial sightseeing onboard a zero-emission eVTOL.
This operating center will be more than a simple vertiport. It will integrate complex infrastructure for unmanned eVTOL operations, including a command-and-control center plus all the typical passenger facilities. It's one of the first in the UAM industry to be dedicated to unmanned, passenger-carrying operations, with a focus on aerial tourism. According to EHang, this new center is set to be completed as soon as this year, which means unmanned eVTOL flights could kick off by 2025.
EHang is the Luohu District's partner in this trailblazing project. The EH216-S is the eVTOL that will conduct pilotless tourist flights as part of the project. After the recent signing ceremony, one of the local officials (Defan Fan, secretary of the Luohu District Committee) experienced this type of flight first-hand.
The EH216-S is not only an innovative pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL but also became the first one of its kind globally to obtain a type certificate and standard airworthiness certificate. It happened last year, and it was a huge milestone not just for the Chinese eVTOL maker but also for the industry as a whole. With this new center set to be completed in 2024, the EH216-S might become the first pilotless commercial air taxi to start regular operations.
This two-seat eVTOL is a short-distance electric aircraft designed for a 30 km (18.6 miles) range and a top speed of 130 kph (80 mph).
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