India Unveils First eVTOL Air Taxi Prototype; Commercial Services Targeted by 2028

Key facts

• The ePlane Company, an IIT Madras-incubated startup, unveiled India's first full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype, designated PT-01.
• The prototype has a carbon-fibre composite structure, weighs 2.2 tonnes, features an 8-metre wingspan, and has an operational range of 110 km.
• The aircraft uses distributed electric propulsion with six independent lift rotors and four forward propellers, reducing single-point failure risks.
• It incorporates Synergistic Lift technology, combining fixed wings with dedicated lift and cruise propellers instead of tilting rotors.
• The compact footprint allows operations from spaces half the size of a basketball court, enabling use of existing hospital helipads and rooftops.
• Commercial operations are targeted by 2028, starting with air ambulance services, followed by airport transfers and urban passenger transport.