Photo: TCab Tech
EHang is already a household name in the eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) industry worldwide, but there's a new kid on the block with equally ambitious goals. While EHang is one of the pioneers of fully autonomous electric air taxis, TCab Tech aims to commercialize China's first domestically-made tilt-rotor eVTOL.
TCab Tech is the name of a Chinese eVTOL startup founded in 2021 by an enthusiastic team of young engineers. They moved quickly, and by the end of 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration in China (CAAC) had officially approved their application for type certification. If things continue to go according to plan, TCab's flagship aircraft, which is named E20, will be fully certified by 2025.
What makes this eVTOL particularly interesting is that it's the first of its kind (a tilt-rotor design) to be made in China. The E20 combines a conventional T-tail design with a tilt-rotor configuration comprised of four tilt- and two-lift rotors. Designed to operate as an urban five-seat (the pilot plus four passengers) air taxi, the E20 will be able to cover up to 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge at 260 kph (161.5 mph) with a maximum payload of 450 kg (990 lbs).
The name TCab comes from "time cab," which is a symbol for fast, comfortable airborne transportation even in the busiest urban areas. This is what the Chinese startup wants to offer in the form of both inter-city travel and aerial sightseeing aboard a fully electric, efficient aircraft.
As for the targeted market, TCab Tech will initially focus on its home country, especially since China is unanimously seen as the biggest eVTOL market in the future. Apart from Southeast Asia, the E20 eVTOL is also gearing up for successful operations in the Middle East, another significant eVTOL market that has already opened its gates to many top-tier air taxi manufacturers around the world. The company recently got a $20 million boost from an unnamed investment fund linked to this region.
TCab also claims to have secured orders for more than 200 units of the E20 so far, with customers including the prestigious Asian Express Aviation Group.
Last year, EHang marked a historic milestone with the CAAC's certification for the EH12-S. It was considered the world's first certification of an autonomous passenger-carrying eVTOL. TCab Tech could soon add another huge milestone for China and its domestic air mobility industry if it gets its tilt-rotor aircraft successfully certified. There's no doubt that China still has many surprises to offer in the following years when it comes to eVTOL technology.
TCab Tech's eVTOL completed its first flight test in 2023 and is gearing up for upcoming tests on the way to full certification.
What makes this eVTOL particularly interesting is that it's the first of its kind (a tilt-rotor design) to be made in China. The E20 combines a conventional T-tail design with a tilt-rotor configuration comprised of four tilt- and two-lift rotors. Designed to operate as an urban five-seat (the pilot plus four passengers) air taxi, the E20 will be able to cover up to 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge at 260 kph (161.5 mph) with a maximum payload of 450 kg (990 lbs).
The name TCab comes from "time cab," which is a symbol for fast, comfortable airborne transportation even in the busiest urban areas. This is what the Chinese startup wants to offer in the form of both inter-city travel and aerial sightseeing aboard a fully electric, efficient aircraft.
As for the targeted market, TCab Tech will initially focus on its home country, especially since China is unanimously seen as the biggest eVTOL market in the future. Apart from Southeast Asia, the E20 eVTOL is also gearing up for successful operations in the Middle East, another significant eVTOL market that has already opened its gates to many top-tier air taxi manufacturers around the world. The company recently got a $20 million boost from an unnamed investment fund linked to this region.
TCab also claims to have secured orders for more than 200 units of the E20 so far, with customers including the prestigious Asian Express Aviation Group.
Last year, EHang marked a historic milestone with the CAAC's certification for the EH12-S. It was considered the world's first certification of an autonomous passenger-carrying eVTOL. TCab Tech could soon add another huge milestone for China and its domestic air mobility industry if it gets its tilt-rotor aircraft successfully certified. There's no doubt that China still has many surprises to offer in the following years when it comes to eVTOL technology.
TCab Tech's eVTOL completed its first flight test in 2023 and is gearing up for upcoming tests on the way to full certification.
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