Apart from what is visible in three photos released on May 25, almost nothing is known about the technology EHang is using for the VT-30 eVTOL aircraft, including the hybrid-electric propulsion system that will support a projected range of 187 miles. The Chinese company reported that the vehicle has made an initial vertical takeoff and landing, but provided no further details about its plan to bring the aircraft into commercial service for inter-city flights and trips around larger regional areas in China and beyond.

From 2024, Germany's Lilium aims to launch scheduled commercial services across Europe. It has selected Luxaviation to operate these, and to take responsibility for securing all approvals and managing pilots who will be trained by Lufthansa. The seven-seat Lilium Jet will operate on routes of up to around 155 miles. The manufacturer also planning to develop a service network in Florida.

New York City-based start-up Kelekona says it is now beginning to build a scaled model of an eVTOL aircraft derived from a blended wing, or lifting body, airframe concept. The search for new premises and ambitions to start flight testing the design under an FAA experimental license by early 2022 have led to plans for a funding round to start in late July.

In April 2021, EASA launched a public consultation over proposed guidance for early-stage machine learning applications, based on joint research conducted with Switzerland-based Daedalean. The European aviation safety agency's roadmap envisages various phases of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology being rolled out between now and 2035.

Honeywell believes that its alliance with Japanese automotive technology group Denso could strengthen its plans to support developers of eVTOL aircraft for missions such as air taxi and freight services. The partners say they expect to deliver electric propulsion systems that could support flight testing of new vehicles by around mid-2022. Denso is based in Tokyo and has a significant U.S. operation in Michigan.

Faradair Aerospace founder and CEO Neil Cloughley says the BEHA aircraft has the potential to disrupt the current economic constraints on regional airline services, with its short-field takeoff and landing performance allowing it to bypass major airports. It has recently added to its list of partners with companies including Dunlop Aircraft Tyres joining the UK-based program.

Pipistrel is leaning toward a hydrogen propulsion system for the Miniliner family of aircraft, which would carry a pilot and up to 19 passengers on trips of up to around 625 miles. The aircraft would be able to land and take off in less than 2,600 feet, opening up a large number of smaller airfields to regional airline service for the first time.

Outside engineering circles, the ways that electric propulsion systems provide power for new eVTOL aircraft appear not to be well understood. Comprehending the technical limitations of current battery technology is critical to a clear analysis of the business plans being touted by numerous start-up companies in the advanced air mobility sector. So as part of our explainer series of videos, FutureFlight asked technical expert Sergio Cecutta from SMG Consulting to lead us through a short “Electric Propulsion for Aviation 101” course. 

Lift Aircraft is developing the Hexa electric multicopter to be operated under FAA's Powered Ultralight rules for leisure flying. In the longer-term, the company says it may expand the scope of operations by introducing a version that it could be used for short-range personal transportation.