Embraer Subsidiary Shows First Full-Scale eVTOL Prototype

August 5, 2024

Eve, a subsidiary of Embraer, unveiled its full-scale eVTOL prototype aircraft for the first time during the 2024 Farnborough International Air Show. (Image: Eve)

Eve Air Mobility, Embraer's electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturing subsidiary, has announced a significant advancement in the assembly of its first full-scale eVTOL prototype. During the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, the company unveiled the aircraft being built in the Embraer test facility of Gaviao Peixoto, Sao Paulo State.

“Our global team of engineers have shown exceptional dedication and expertise to successfully assemble our first full-scale eVTOL prototype,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility. “This is a significant milestone that underscores our commitment to safety, accessibility and innovation. As we now turn our attention toward the preparation of a rigorous testing campaign, we are not just creating an aircraft, we’re building a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions that will shape the future of the Advanced Air Mobility industry.”

Eve began in 2017 as a project within Embraer-X, a unique market accelerator inside Embraer. In 2021, the subsidiary partnered with Zanite Acquisition Corp., an investment company focused on emerging technologies. That was followed by Eve going public with an initial public offering in May 2022.

At Farnborough, Eve released more details about its full-scale prototype and the eventual production version of the eVTOL that they're developing. According to Eve's website, their eVTOL is being developed as a 100 percent all-electric aircraft, with a range of 60 miles (100 km) and enough room for four passengers and a pilot.

Eve's eVTOL prototype has eight dedicated propellers for vertical flight and fixed wing to fly in cruise with no change in the position of these components during flight. (Image: Eve)

Eve's eVTOL prototype features a lift + cruise configuration: the aircraft has dedicated rotors for vertical flight and fixed wings to fly on cruise, with no components required to change position during flight.

"Among the most attention-grabbing features are its eight rotors. The reason for this is simple and fundamental: safety. Multiple rotors make our eVTOL more robust and capable of handling a variety of conditions," the company notes on its website.

In addition to the roll-out of its prototype, Eve also announced that it has completed the selection of the primary suppliers for its eVTOL aircraft. As Eve advances into the next phase of development, the eVTOL prototype already has a series of comprehensive testing campaigns. These campaigns are designed to meticulously assess every aspect of the aircraft’s operation and performance, from flight capabilities to safety features. These valuable insights will play an important role in refining the design and functionality of the aircraft. “This extensive testing phase begins the next fundamental step in our journey,” said Bordais. “It ensures that our eVTOL meets the high standards and expectations we’ve set for performance and safety.”

Through its relationship with Embraer, the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer, Eve is able to take advantage of Embraer’s 55 years of experience developing, designing, certifying, and producing aircraft as it develops its eVTOL. Additionally, with letters of intent for 2,900 eVTOLs on order, customers will benefit from having access to an existing global network of service and support locations, critical to ensuring reliable, safe, and efficient operations.

Eve continues to develop a comprehensive portfolio of agnostic services and operations solutions. This includes Vector, a unique Urban Air Traffic Management software designed to optimize and scale Advanced Air Mobility operations worldwide.

Source