AutoFlight and CATL sign a strategic investment and cooperation agreement worth hundreds of millions of dollars
04 August 2024
AutoFlight and leading battery developer CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) announced an exclusive strategic investment and cooperation agreement, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, bringing together pioneers in eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) and battery technology in a unique partnership.
CATL’s exclusive strategic investment in AutoFlight underscores its strong recognition of its core competitiveness and the long-term development potential in the eVTOL field. As a global leader in battery technology and innovation, CATL holds a dominant position among new energy battery suppliers.
AutoFlight will establish a long-term partnership with CATL, committing to the joint research and development of eVTOL aviation batteries. By combining their respective resources and technical expertise, the two companies will focus on enhancing the energy density and performance of eVTOL batteries, aiming to support longer flight distances and higher load capacities, while also achieving significant improvements in safety and stability.
Through this in-depth collaboration with CATL, AutoFlight will not only accelerate the development and application of eVTOL battery technology but also elevate the overall technical capabilities of eVTOL aircraft to new heights.
Following the completion of this financing, AutoFlight will remain committed to the in-depth research, development, and widespread application of eVTOL technology, with a focus on further enhancing the safety and reliability of air logistics and travel solutions. The company will expedite the R&D and airworthiness certification of its manned Prosperity passenger aircraft, while collaborating with leaders in the new energy sector to advance the R&D, commercialization, and market expansion of eVTOL technology, ultimately creating a more comprehensive and intelligent air travel solution.
CATL reckon they are hitting 500KWh/kg with their condensed battery, good enough for planes:
https://www.catl.com/en/news/6015.html
Ignore the bloody great aircraft they have in the background, they are actually looking to an 8 ton plane, but very welcome nonetheless.
Posted by: Davemart | 05 August 2024 at 04:35 AM
https://www.autoflight.com/en/news/autoflight-delivers-first-evtol/
' In another recent milestone for the eVTOL innovator, AutoFlight's CarryAll aircraft, the cargo variant of Prosperity, obtained Type Certification (TC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on March 22, 2024. This marks the world’s first eVTOL aircraft above one ton to have been awarded type certification.
Tian Yu, founder and co-chairman of AutoFlight, said: “The official delivery of the first Prosperity to a customer signifies a new chapter for AutoFlight as we begin to ship our innovative electric aircraft to global markets. Additionally, on the cargo side the receipt of orders for over 200 CarryAll planes already demonstrates a very strong market demand for our products.”
The recent CarryAll orders include 30 units for ZTO Express, a NYSE and HKEX dual-listed company and one of the world’s largest logistics companies.
Referring to CarryAll receiving Type Certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Mr Tian said: “Successfully completing this certification was a lengthy and extremely rigorous process and I would like to thank the review team and all my colleagues for their painstaking efforts. This achievement establishes a robust foundation for AutoFlight’s forthcoming large-scale commercial operations.”
Securing TC airworthiness certification is vital for ensuring the safety and market entry of the aircraft for commercial operations. The CarryAll, with a maximum take-off weight of 2 tons, operates autonomously and on electric power. Its compliance verification encompassed various aspects, including performance control, stability, lift/thrust system, structural strength/composite blades, battery system, avionics system, electrical system, and flight performance. The thorough review process involved manufacturing compliance inspections and the witnessing of 46 major compliance verification tests at the equipment level, system level and structural component level. Additionally, the CarryAll airworthiness certification prototype completed eight major compliance tests, including plateau performance, data link and ground station functions, involving 156 flights and exceeding a total flight distance of 10,000 kms. '
And nope, I have no idea how that compares with certification in Europe and the US
Posted by: Davemart | 05 August 2024 at 12:22 PM
To answer my own question, China is in the lowest category for air safety, decades behind the US, Europe and Japan.
In other VTOL news, none flew at the Paris Olympics (Fr)
https://www.lefigaro.fr/economie/pas-de-taxis-volants-a-paris-pendant-les-jo-l-abandon-d-une-promesse-trop-ambitieuse-20240808
They came up with some excuse that the could not get the parts or something:
' La raison de ce report ? «Un décalage de quelques semaines» de la certification de l’engin, lié à ses moteurs, explique Edward Arkwright, directeur général exécutif du Groupe ADP. De son côté, Dirk Hoke, PDG de Volocopter, évoque «un sous-traitant américain qui n'était pas capable de fournir les moteurs qu'il avait promis». Ces moteurs ont dû être renvoyés aux États-Unis pour y être contrôlé. «Ils vont revenir la semaine prochaine, mais pas à temps pour faire les vols depuis la barge» avant la fin des JO, explique Dirk Hoke. '
Posted by: Davemart | 08 August 2024 at 03:30 AM