1
0
CHICAGO, 28 September 2022: United recently announced a USD 15m investment in Eve Air Mobility and a conditional purchase agreement on 200 four-seat electric aircraft plus 200 options, with deliveries starting as early as 2026.
Investment terms
This represents yet another large investment by United in eVTOLs, sometimes known as flying taxis, which have the potential to completely change how people commute in cities all over the world.
According to the terms of the agreement, the parties expect to collaborate on further tasks, such as research on the creation, utilisation, and deployment of Eve’s aircraft and the ecosystem for urban air mobility (UAM).
Zero emissions pledge
The United Airlines Ventures (UAV) corporate venture fund was established by United as the first major U.S. airline and is intended to support the company’s 100% green goal to achieve net zero emissions by the year 2050 without the use of conventional offsets.
United has been a pioneer in the market when it comes to investing in eVTOL and electric aircraft, hydrogen fuel cell engines, and sustainable aviation fuel through UAV. A California-based eVTOL startup received a USD 10m deposit from the company last month for 100 aircraft.
eVTOL aircraft
eVTOL aircraft are made to use electric motors rather than conventional combustion engines, offering carbon-free travel and serving as “air taxis” in urban areas.
Eve’s design makes use of traditional fixed wings, rotors, and pushers to create a lift-plus-cruise design that prioritises security, effectiveness, dependability, and certifiability.
Its vehicle has the ability to cut noise levels by 90% compared to existing conventional aircraft and provide a sustainable commute with a range of 60 miles (100 km).
In addition, Eve is developing a fresh approach to air traffic control for the UAM sector’s safe expansion. This software is anticipated to function with the same level of safety as Embraer’s current air traffic management software and to be a crucial strategic tool for the expansion of the entire sector.
Comments
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,” Leskinen added.
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. It is an unparalleled opportunity to work with United to advance the US UAM ecosystem, and we look forward to it,” Stein stated.
