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.

Managing Editor

EHang says it is preparing to unveil a longer-range autonomous eVTOL aircraft that would be able to carry two passengers more than 100 km (62 miles). Its current two-seat 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle is limited to just 35 km.
The Chinese company’s founder, chairman, and CEO, Huazhi Hu, disclosed the planned product on August 25 while announcing financial results for the second quarter of 2020. Chief strategy officer Edward Xu quickly added that no further details will be released for now, but that the project is “almost ready for release.” 
Quizzed by analysts as to how EHang intends to triple the range of its current eVTOL design, Xu responded, “We won’t comment on how we are achieving this, but you will be surprised.” He added that the new aircraft is “one of a number of things in our pipeline.”
Revenues climbed in&nbsp;the second quarter by almost 63 percent to RMB35.7 ($5.1 million). More than 63 percent of this came from what EHang categorizes as “air mobility solutions,” which appear&nbsp;to mainly involve producing public light shows with drones. The company reported a gross profit of RMB20.6 million, but its underlying operating loss for the Nasdaq-listed group was RMB19.2 million. 
Earlier this year, EHang started trial operations in China with the 216 AAV for tasks such as carrying light freight and giving sightseeing rides for guests at the LN Garden Hotel in Guangzhou province. Xu confirmed that&nbsp;the local government owns the hotel and that his company isn’t yet receiving income for these services. 
Hu told analysts that EHang&nbsp;has shifted its strategic priorities in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic to focus mainly on the Chinese and European markets for its eVTOL aircraft. There was no mention of plans for the U.S. market, where EHang last year conducted flight trials in North Carolina. However, across the border in Canada, it has now been approved to begin trial operations with local partner United Therapeutics, which plans to use the vehicles for transporting human organs for medical transplants. 
In Europe, EHang is preparing to launch a trial operation of the 216 AAV with authorities in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, who want to use the aircraft to transport crew to and from ships. The company says it also has a new undisclosed partner in France and another in South Korea. 
Later this year, EHang will start construction of a production facility in Guangzhou that will be able to build up to 600 vehicles per year. It says the facility will also be used for development work and training. 
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Charles Alcock

EHang's existing 216 AAV eVTOL aircraft can fly up to around 22 miles, but the company is now working on a vehicle that would have a range of just over 60 miles. [Image: EHang]

EHang Discloses Plans For Longer-Range Autonomous Aerial Vehicle

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