"The ePlane, Indian Startup, Aims to Develop Electric Air Taxi Prototype by March 2025"

Chennai-based startup The ePlane Company is set to develop a certifiable prototype of an electric air taxi by March 2025, aiming to tackle urban congestion with innovative technology. The company, incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, plans to initially commercialize drones capable of carrying payloads of 2-6 kilograms in the coming months.

Founder and CEO of The ePlane Company, Satya Chakravarthy, revealed that the startup is working on an eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. The first model will be a three- or four-seater that could be converted into an air ambulance. "By March next year is when we expect to develop the first certifiable prototype. It will take another couple of years to get certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)," Chakravarthy told PTI.

According to the company's website, an ePlane can reach a destination in just 14 minutes compared to 60 minutes by a personal vehicle, underscoring its potential to alleviate urban congestion.

In addition to the air taxi, The ePlane Company is also developing drones. The startup plans to release a basic category of drones followed by an enhanced category. The drones, with payload capacities of 2-6 kg and up to 50 kg, are designed to fly distances of 40-60 kilometers.

Meanwhile, InterGlobe Enterprises and US-based Archer Aviation have announced plans to launch an all-electric air taxi service in India by 2026. This service will carry passengers from Connaught Place in New Delhi to Gurugram in Haryana in just 7 minutes. InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, has partnered with Archer Aviation to supply 200 eVTOL aircraft capable of carrying four passengers and a pilot.

The European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has already prepared rules for eVTOL aircraft. These electric air taxis could offer faster intra-city travel without the need for extensive ground infrastructure, potentially reducing congestion, noise, and emissions. However, challenges remain, including safety concerns, regulatory hurdles, and integration with existing transport systems. EASA suggests that, with proper safety measures and regulatory frameworks, eVTOLs could become a common sight in urban skies within the next 5 to 10 years.

ET