Ehang EH216-S Goes For A Downtown Shanghai Joyride
Image Credit: EHang.
Those clever folks over at Ehang have gone and flown their EH216-S eVTOL right in the heart of downtown Shanghai! Now, Is this the dawn of a new era of urban air mobility? Will we soon be zipping around megacities like George Jetson? I'd love that, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
This maiden voyage was more of a sightseeing tour for the EH216-S itself. A chance for this little electric marvel to get its bearings amongst the skyscrapers and soak in the sights and sounds of Shanghai. And who can blame it? If I were a cutting-edge eVTOL, I'd want to see the world too!
But in all seriousness, this is a significant step for Ehang and the future of urban air mobility. They're working with HYNFAR-UAM, the first company in Shanghai dedicated to eVTOL operations, to explore how these vehicles can be used for things like passenger transportation, tourism, and even logistics. Imagine that – your next takeout order delivered by air! Just try not to picture a rogue egg roll bouncing off your neighbor's head.
Image Credit: EHang.
The EH216-S is powered by batteries, has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,367 lbs, and can hit a top speed of 81 mph. But its maximum range is only 25 minutes. So, unless your destination is within a 20-mile radius, you might want to pack lunch and a charging cable.
Of course, Ehang is already working on improving that range. Last November, they completed a flight test with a solid-state battery-powered EH216-S that lasted 48 minutes! That's enough time to fly from Shanghai to… well, maybe not very far, but it's progress!
But before you start planning your aerial commute, remember that China's airspace is still pretty tightly controlled. While the government has been loosening restrictions to encourage the development of a "low-altitude economy," it's not like you can just hop in your eVTOL and take off from your balcony (though wouldn't that be something?).
Image Credit: EHang.
Shanghai, however, is keen on becoming a global leader in this low-altitude economy. They've even set a goal of having a complete industrial system for eVTOL development and commercialization by 2027. They're aiming for the core low-altitude economy industry to reach more than $6.8 billion by then. That's a lot of potential egg rolls!
And Ehang is right there in the thick of it. They're one of the earliest eVTOL makers in China, and they're already delivering units of their EH216 series. In the third quarter of 2024 alone, they delivered 63 units – the highest quarterly delivery volume in their history, according to their official press release. Of course, it's easy to claim record delivery if you've never delivered anything before - but we are talking about 63 units of eVTOL already delivered to paying customers. While the rest of the world is still dreaming.
Image Credit: EHang.
What does all this mean for the future of urban air mobility? It's still early days, but things are certainly looking up (pun intended). With companies like Ehang pushing the boundaries of eVTOL technology and governments like Shanghai's investing in the infrastructure to support it, we may soon be living in a world where flying taxis are as common as… Well, flying taxis in science fiction movies.
I can't wait for the day when we'll all be able to enjoy a leisurely aerial commute, complete with in-flight entertainment and a complimentary bag of peanuts. Just don't expect me to be the one flying you – I'm perfectly happy with my trusty old set of wheels (and my occasional airplane ride).
