Honda to develop eVTOL aircraft

In addition to clean operation, eVTOL features safety at a level equivalent to that of commercial passenger airplanes. Because of such features, the development race for eVTOL aircraft is getting increasingly vigorous.

However, all-electric eVTOL aircraft face a range issue due to limited battery capacity, therefore the realistic use area is limited to city transportation. To address this issue and realize user-friendly inter-city transportation with longer range, Honda will leverage its electrification technologies and develop Honda eVTOL equipped with a gas turbine hybrid power unit.

Envisioning a transportation ecosystem

In addition to electrification technologies, Honda eVTOL will feature technologies Honda has amassed in different areas such as combustion, aerodynamics and control technologies.

Along with the eVTOL and a hybrid power unit, Honda also outlines a vision for a transportation ecosystem involving the use of strategically stationed ‘Honda Mobility Hubs’ to serve as base locations connecting various cities. This ecosystem could involve electric and autonomous ground transportation as well.

Meanwhile, in the air ambulance sector, Dufour Aerospace and Swiss air rescue Rega have signed a letter of intent to cooperate on development of an air ambulance version of Dufour’s tilt-wing Aero3 eVTOL aircraft.