Autonomous eVTOL Maker EHang Says It’s on the Cusp of Type Certification

For all of the FAA’s recent efforts to promote advanced air mobility (AAM) services in American airspace and chip away at China’s growing influence on the industry, the agency and U.S. lawmakers may be disappointed by a recent piece of news: A Chinese company appears set to obtain the world’s first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) type certification.

EHang, a Guangzhou-based manufacturer of autonomous eVTOL aircraft for passenger transport and tourism services, announced it has completed all planned tests and flights of its EH216-S two-seater in the last phase of demonstrating compliance of its technology.

The flight test regimen included a definitive final demonstration for the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), which eliminated the last obstacle on the aircraft’s path to type certification, according to the company. EHang expects to obtain that approval “soon” after it wraps up a handful of final procedures.

“This achievement marks a significant, unprecedented milestone in the global emerging eVTOL industry, underscoring their unwavering dedication and pioneering advantages,” said Huazhi Hu, founder, chairman, and CEO of EHang. “Additionally, this sets the stage for us to secure the type certificate soon and proceed with their endeavors to initiate commercial operations.”

The CAAC also approved EHang’s Unmanned Aircraft Cloud System (UACS) for trial operations, representing another key step toward the entry into service Hu alluded to. The system is expected to be an important component of the company’s operations and will help customers orchestrate multiple aircraft, manage airspace and flight plans, and more.

The two announcements represent a blow to U.S. eVTOL firms and aviation regulators that are hoping to be the first to launch AAM services in 2025. EHang, however, is expected to enter service as early as this year or next, starting with China and Japan. 

The company currently ranks fifth on SMG Consulting’s AAM Reality Index, which measures an AAM manufacturer’s likelihood of certifying their aircraft, entering service, and producing thousands of units per year. It’s the top AAM company looking to serve the tourism industry.

The next step for EHang will be obtaining type certification for its eVTOL, a small, wingless, fully autonomous design unlike most others in development. By and large, manufacturers, such as Archer Aviation and Lilium, are building larger, winged models to be flown by an onboard pilot.

EH216-S will carry two passengers at low altitude on short- and medium-haul routes. It has a 485-pound payload and an 18.5 sm (16 nm) range when fully loaded. The aircraft cruises at around 62 mph (54 knots) and can hit a top speed of 80 mph (69.5 knots), making it slower than most models expected to enter service.

A coaxial dual-propeller architecture makes the design light and reduces the space and structural components required to install propellers and motors. Its eight foldable arms house 18 lift-and-thrust rotors. Notably, it lacks fixed wings, a staple of most eVTOL models.

EHang’s three core design philosophies for EH216-S are full redundancy, an autonomous pilot, and a centralized command and control center. In addition to redundant batteries, the eVTOL includes backups for all major flight components, multiple flight control systems, and a built-in fail-safe system that allows a remote pilot to take over in case of emergency.

Though it’s capable of flying entirely on its own, EH216-S uses 4G and 5G wireless transmission to communicate with a command and control center. As mentioned, the center lets remote pilots step in as needed, but it also monitors and displays real-time flight data such as battery level, altitude, speed, and position. It centralizes the routing, dispatch, and management of multiple flight routes and aircraft flying simultaneously, giving operators a firm grip on their activities.

The CAAC officially accepted EHang’s type certification application for EH216-S in January 2021. Over the past 30-plus months, the company has completed over 9,300 low-altitude tourism flight trials in 18 Chinese cities, including the mega-metropolises of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. It also completed Japan’s first passenger-carrying flight of an autonomous eVTOL in February.

EHang has tested the aircraft’s load, durability, reliability, and environmental impact, flying it under low and high temperatures and in high humidity, salt spray, and even typhoon conditions. It also evaluated batteries, electronics, software, the data link to the ground control station, and other components to demonstrate they meet CAAC airworthiness and safety standards.

EH216-S’s recent demonstration before CAAC marked the final milestone before it can achieve type certification.

“I believe the remaining procedures will be finished very soon before the official authorization of the type certificate,” said Hu. “It will pave the way for their commercial operations in the next stage.”

Cloud software has become a critical safeguard for the secure and efficient operation of unmanned aircraft. Just about every eVTOL manufacturer has some form of this technology, and EHang is no exception.

The company’s UACS manages airspace, aircraft, and flight plans and operators, including “cluster management” for the safe operation of multiple aircraft in the same airspace. Now, a CAAC letter of approval for trials signifies it meets China’s civil aviation standards. According to EHang, the tech will be a key component of service following type certification.

“From unmanned aerial vehicle systems to the UACS, as well as operating teams and service platforms, EHang has made comprehensive and sufficient preparation for the upcoming commercial operations after years of planning,” said Hu. “With EHang’s long-term accumulated advantages, they are confident and well positioned to embark on a new chapter of UAM operations with their partners.”

Hu indicated that favorable CAAC rulemaking and an array of partnership with city governments position the company well to integrate and operate its services when the time comes. 

The most recent of those partnerships is an agreement with the Bao’an District Government of Shenzhen to jointly develop urban air mobility use cases and systems, as well as routes for low-altitude demonstrations. The Bao’an District will provide support for EH216-S procurement, financial leasing, infrastructure construction, and low-altitude operations in Shenzhen.

The ultimate goal of the partnership is to turn the metropolis into a “national low-altitude economy development demonstration city.” EHang plans to establish its first Operation Demonstration Center there and to eventually launch aerial tourism and sightseeing services with its eVTOL. The partners hope to develop more than 10 routes by year’s end.

If all goes according to plan, EHang will beat Archer, Joby Aviation, Wisk Aero, and other U.S. rivals to market—albeit outside of the U.S. and European markets. While that’s only part of the battle, the company appears well positioned to capitalize on its early entry. 

According to SMG, it had just over 1,400 EH216-S orders as of June—that’s more than every AAM manufacturer besides Embraer’s Eve Air Mobility and the U.K.’s Vertical Aerospace, which is now contending with a prototype accident that threatens to further delay certification.

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The Case For rPET Testing: A Call For Authenticity And Sustainability

By Anouschka Jansen

As brands look to meet growing demands and concerns of the consumer for more recycled material usage, the fashion industry has continued its consideration and the use of recycled polyester material (rPET). Turning away from virgin plastic products is essential for a sustainable future, with brands — both decades-old and start-ups — delivering lower impact products by implementing rPET into their lines.

It is, however, extremely important to make sure brand manufacturing partners use authentic rPET which meets the most specific standards. rPET testing is highly encouraged in all industries, to verify each product contains the amount of rPET that is claimed, increasing the quality of recycled materials in the market. Qualitative and quantitative testing helps ensure transparency and authenticity throughout the manufacturing process, while also building a level of trust with consumers who have become extremely conscious of the impact of their buying habits.

Current technology behind rPET chemical testing relies on detecting a specific substance: isophthalic acid (IPA), which is used in the making of plastic drink bottles — the primary source of raw material for recycled polyester. IPA is added during bottle manufacturing process to deliver them the desired shape and transparency. When these bottles are recycled, a small percentage of IPA is lost, but the remaining amount can serve as a “marker” to confirm whether plastic bottles were used to manufacture the given batch of rPET, and to assess approximate content of recycled polyester in the fiber.

While not without limitations, IPA-detection-based chemical testing is one of the best approaches to obtain laboratory evidence for backing your rPET claims, and provides a high degree of confidence when backed with traceability measures at other stages of the supply chain.

Utilizing reports from rPET testing to substantiate the use of recycled products in their products, brands can level-up, delivering on a commitment to commitment to reducing waste. This can be particularly impactful on younger-generation consumers, who are increasingly concerned about the environment, and more likely to support sustainable brands. rPET testing is an important step in substantiation of green claims, supporting a lower impact fashion industry.

To most effectively understand the need for testing rPET in global manufacturing, consider the following factors regarding the practice:

Pricing — One of the most notable challenges with the use of rPET is its relatively higher cost compared to virgin polyester — some 40 to 50 percent. Yes, it may deter some manufacturers, but the process is worth so much more to the efforts of a sustainable future. With the utilization of rPET, manufacturers are actively contributing to the reduction of plastic waste and supporting a circular economy. Testing for rPET content allows brands to ensure they get what they pay for, guaranteeing the quality and authenticity of the recycled material.

Demand is greater than supply — While demand for recycled material continues to rise, supply has not been able to keep up, only heightening the concern about authentic rPET. Testing, accompanied by product traceability, ensures manufacturers are receiving and properly administering the material through each step in the manufacturing process, from sourcing and purchasing, to bulk delivery of the recycled material. Mitigate the risk of supply chain issues and potentially, unknowingly, using virgin polyester.

Avoid greenwashing — Greenwashing, or misleading “green” claims, is a simple way to spin minimal efforts to seem more eco-friendly. rPET testing allows brands to demonstrate their efforts with transparency and actual, tangible data. Manufacturers must demonstrate transparency and substantiation regarding their use of rPET. Investing the proper time and finances into rPET ensures a genuine approach to providing a product that’s produced authentically.

Documentary traceability is not enough — Yes, documentation may provide valuable insights into the origin and processing of rPET, but it does not provide real-time confirmation of material authenticity. Testing rPET at critical steps ensures the material used meets your desired quality standards — brands can enhance their control over the supply chain, minimizing the risk of counterfeit or mislabeled rPET.

Testing strengthens substantiation, provides essential data to monitor progress in meeting recycling targets, builds consumer trust and makes the process as cost effective as possible. It is important to test rPET at each critical step in the manufacturing process to ensure its quality, authenticity, and adherence to sustainability goals.

Editor’s Note: Anouschka Jansen is director of Sustainability Solutions at QIMA, a Hong Kong-based company offering quality inspections, supplier audits, certification, and lab testing using a digital platform that brings accuracy, visibility and intelligence for quality and compliance data.

August 17, 2023