The UK’s Vertical Aerospace completes first test flight for eVTOL: UK electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Vertical Aerospace Ltd completed the first test detached flight for its VX4 aircraft flying at some 70 km/h, Bloomberg reported last week. The company — which is looking to achieve certification for its aircraft by the end of 2026 — has already secured some 1.4k preorders for its eVTOLs from companies including Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd, American Airlines Group Inc., and Avolon Holdings Ltd.

eVTOL taxis could be taking off in the US by 2028: The US’ Federal Aviation Administration says eVTOL taxis will begin servicing US cities as soon as 2028 by complying to pre-existing flight rules for helicopters and other low-altitude airplanes, Bloomberg reported last week. Last week, the US regulator published regulations aimed at creating a structured mechanism for building a pipeline of eVTOL-adept pilots in the country. The initial phases of eVTOL deployments will involve manned flights, as opposed to autonomous robotic controlled flights, Bloomberg writes. The global eVTOL market is expected to grow at a CAGR rate of 14.90% from USD 8.2 bn in 2021 to USD 24.9 bn in 2030, according to a report by Business Intelligence Insights.

India’s Tata Group to build USD 5 bn gigafactory in the UK: Indian multinational conglomerate company Tata Group will invest GBP 4 bn (c. USD 5.1 bn) to build a gigafactory for EV battery production in the UK, CNBC reported last week. The EV battery production plant is expected to have an initial output capacity of 40 GWh once operational in 2026, potentially supplying half of the UK’s battery demands by 2030. The production plant will also supply Jaguar Land Rover — a subsidiary of Tata Motors — with EV batteries. The UK government is expected to pay GBP 500 mn in subsidies to support the project, the Financial Times reports.

A green British carrier next year? British green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince plans to launch Britain’s first electric airline early next year, he told The Guardian last week. Ecojet — labeled as a “flag carrier for green Britain” — will launch a 19-seater jet traveling on a Edinburgh-Southampton journey. The planets will operate initially on kerosene-based fuel for the first year, before shifting to engines that can convert green hydrogen into electricity. A second phase will be launched 18 months later with 70-seater jets capable of flying to Europe, Vince said. His company is currently applying for a license from the Civil Aviation Authority to help ensure takeoff and landing slots at airports, he added.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

  • Japan’s Jera will invest USD 300 mn in green tech startups through its new venture capital arm Jera Ventures. (Reuters)
  • The US plans to hold its first offshore wind power auction in the Gulf of Mexico next month. (Reuters)
  • Venezuela is in early discussions with the EU over a USD 1.5 bn methane capture project for export to Europe as natural gas. (Bloomberg)
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