US airline United has invested $15 million in Eve Air Mobility with a conditional purchase agreement for up to 400 flying taxies – or eVTOLs, which stands for electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle. The company believes that these four-seat electric aircraft have the potential to revolutionize the commuter experiences in cities across the world, with the first deliveries expected as early as 2026.
The companies intend to work on future projects, including studies on the development, use and application of Eve’s aircraft and the urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem.
Cutting edge technology to drive sustainable aviation
On 08 September, Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures, said. “United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation. Today, United is making history again, by becoming the first major airline to publicly invest in two eVTOL companies.
“Our agreement with Eve highlights our confidence in the urban air mobility market and serves as another important benchmark toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – without using traditional offsets. Together, we believe our suite of clean energy technologies will revolutionize air travel as we know it and serve as the catalyst for the aviation industry to move toward a sustainable future.”
“United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation.”
Quiet & carbon-free
United was the first major US airline to create a corporate venture fund. United Airlines Ventures (UAV) was designed to support the company’s 100% green commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 without the use of traditional offsets. Through UAV, United has led the industry in investments in eVTOL and electric aircraft, hydrogen fuel cell engines, and sustainable aviation fuel. Last month, United gave a $10 million deposit to a California-based eVTOL company for 100 aircraft.
eVTOL aircraft use electric motors, providing a carbon-free flight alternative to traditional combustion engines. Eve’s design has coupled this type of motor with conventional fixed wings, rotors and pushers, which creates a lift-plus-cruise design which, the company says, favours safety, efficiency, reliability and certifiability. With a range of 100 km, these vehicles have the potential to not only a more sustainable commute but also to reduce noise levels by 90 percent compared to current conventional aircraft. Eve is also creating a new air traffic management solution designed for the UAM industry, which is expected to be a strategic asset to help the flying taxi industry scale safely.
Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve, said, “United’s investment in Eve reinforces the trust in our products and services and strengthens our position in the North American market. I am confident that our UAM agnostic solutions, coupled with the global know-how we have been developing at Eve and Embraer’s* heritage, are the best fit for this initiative, giving United’s customers a quick, economical and sustainable way to get to its hub airports and commute in dense urban environments.”
*Embraer is an aircraft manufacturer that builds and certifies aircraft.
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