Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

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Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

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Latest news about Chinese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer EHang

EHang has is ramping up production rates for its EH216-S two-passenger autonomous eVTOL aircraft. Reporting third quarter financial results on November 18, the Chinese company said it delivered 63 units in the three months ending on September 30, which was a 29% increase on output for the second quarter.
The latest financial results have been released at a time when EHang is seeking to expand its aircraft family and boost performance. It aims to achieve these objectives through the adoption of new solid state batteries and an improved electric propulsion system being developed with Chinese partner <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-11-11/ehang-seeks-higher-performance-evtol-electric-propulsion">Zhuhai Enpower Electric</a>, which specializes in electric motors and motor controllers primarily for cars.
Early deliveries of the EH216-S have been increasing, despite the fact that neither EHang nor any of its Chinese customers have yet been issued with an air operator certificate (AOC) by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Some public flights have been permitted under special licenses as companies prepare to launch air taxi services in several Chinese cities, including Hefei, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Zhuhai, and Wencheng
The aircraft received its Chinese type certificate in October 2023, but has not yet been approved in any of the export markets EHang is targeting. These include Thailand, Brazil, Japan and the UAE, where flight demonstrations have been conducted in recent months. According to EHang, it has now conducted 56,000 flights in 18 countries across Asia, Latin America, North America, and Europe.
“Our progress towards obtaining an operating certificate for pilotless, passenger-carrying aircraft is on track, marking a global first that will indicate readiness for full-scale operations,” said Huazhi Hu, EHang’s founder, chairman, and CEO. “We are also actively assisting [Chinese] customers and partners across multiple regions to expedite their operating certificate applications, accelerating the nationwide commercialization of the EH216-S.”
EHang’s most recent sales announcement was made on November 15 when Zhejiang Sunriver Culture and Tourism committed to buying 50 EH216-S aircraft. Under a framework agreement, the two companies said they would jointly develop plans to start “cultural tourism” flights.
Third-quarter revenues increased by almost 26% in the second quarter to reach Y1281.1 million ($18.3 million). This helped to reduce operating losses, which were reported as being almost 22% lower at Y70 million, while the net loss was reduced by a similar degree to Y48.1 million.
Earlier this month, EHang announced its capital reserves have been boosted by a $22 million investment by Enpower and an undisclosed strategic investor in the Middle East. So far in 2024, EHang has raised $100 million in additional funding.
<h2>Solid-state Batteries Could Boost eVTOL Range</h2>
EHang has flown its autonomous, two-seat eVTOL aircraft using solid-state batteries, marking what it claims is the world’s first test flight of a pilotless, passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft equipped with the novel battery technology.&nbsp;Announcing the news on November 13, EHang said the EH216-S aircraft flew continuously for 48 minutes and 10 minutes on solid-state battery power.
According to Ehang, solid-state batteries increase the aircraft’s endurance by 60% to 90% compared with lithium-ion batteries, which currently limit the range of the EH216-S to just 22 miles (35 kilometers). It has not yet specified by how far the new batteries may extend the aircraft's range.
EHang conducted the flight test in collaboration with the Low-Altitude Economy Battery Research Institute at the International Advanced Technology Application Promotion Center in the Chinese city of Hefei, along with solid-state battery manufacturer Shenzhen Inx Energy Technology Company (“Inx”). Its new partner has been researching and developing solid-state lithium metal batteries since 2020 and produces batteries for drones, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics.
Inx has a production facility in Zhuhai, located in China’s Guangdong province, as well as a research center in California’s Silicon Valley. EHang invested in the company in 2023, indicating its interest in using solid-state battery technology to power eVTOL aircraft.
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-img">
<img alt="EHang and Inx have fitted the EH216-S eVTOL aircraft with solid state batteries." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="493e9175-f096-467d-b188-f3bb84295602" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/EHang%20battery%20image4.jpg" width="3840" height="2160" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>EHang and Inx have fitted the EH216-S eVTOL aircraft with solid state batteries.</figcaption>
</figure>

In the electric aviation and automotive industries, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-09-03/electric-aircraft-developers-prep-battery-breakthroughs">solid-state batteries</a> have been hailed as the most promising alternative to the lithium-ion battery technology that powers most electric things in the world today. However, the technology is still in its infancy, and it has yet to be certified in any aircraft or road vehicles.&nbsp;
<h2>Getting Beyond Lithium-Ion Batteries</h2>
Solid-state batteries enable more range and payload capabilities than their lithium-ion counterparts because they pack more energy density, which means aircraft can carry less battery weight and fly farther.&nbsp;
According to EHang, the solid-state batteries it installed in the EH216-S have an energy density of 480 Wh/kg. For comparison, the energy density in most electric car batteries today is around 150 Wh/kg to 300 Wh/kg, and many electric aircraft in development today have been relying on that existing EV battery technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Meanwhile, California-based battery manufacturer Amprius is producing lithium-ion batteries with an energy density of <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-11-07/battery-maker-amprius-secures-orders-three-electric-aircraft-developers">450 Wh/kg</a>, which the company claims is higher than any other commercially available battery.&nbsp;
EHang did not specify the power density of the new solid-state battery. Power density is a measure of how quickly a battery can discharge its energy, which is crucial for vertical lift. Typically there is a trade-off between the two; battery chemistries that offer higher energy density tend to have lower power density and vice-versa.&nbsp;
The key difference between solid-state batteries and lithium-ion batteries lies in the electrolyte, which is the material between a battery’s cathode and anode that facilitates the movement of lithium ions during charging and discharging. Lithium-ion batteries have liquid electrolytes, which contain organic solvents mixed with lithium salts and other additives, and they are often flammable.&nbsp;
According to EHang, the solid-state battery it tested in the EH216-S contains an electrolyte made of oxide ceramics, metallic materials that are non-flammable, highly conductive, and chemically stable under high temperatures and voltages. The battery’s anode is made of lithium metal, whereas lithium-ion batteries usually have graphite or silicon anodes.&nbsp;
EHang plans to launch large-scale production of solid-state batteries for the EH216-S next year. The company says it has already conducted extensive tests on the batteries, including high-temperature electrical and mechanical performance tests, and it is still working with Inx to further test and optimize the aircraft’s performance and stability with the new batteries.
The manufacturer has also announced plans to upgrade its planned longer-range VT-30 eVTOL model, and this will now be known as the VT-35. However, the company provided no details about the increased range and payload for the new model or the timeline for bringing it to market.

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