EHang and ultra-fast charging-focused company Greater Bay Technology (GBT) have agreed to collaborate on the research and development of ultra-fast/eXtreme fast charging batteries for eVTOL aircraft.
The partnership will aim to promote the research and development as well as industrialization of eVTOL power system components and modules in the UAM sector, laying an ecological foundation for commercial operations of the low-altitude economy.
Based on EHang’s eVTOL aircraft (including EH216-S, VT30 and others), EHang and GBT will jointly develop eVTOL power cells, batteries, packs, charging piles and energy storage systems that meet the airworthiness standards of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (the CAAC) as well as the 4H standards (i.e. high energy density, high cycle life, high instantaneous charge-discharge rate, and high safety), thereby achieving the adaption and adoption of ultra-fast charging power batteries in EHang’s eVTOL aircraft. Furthermore, both parties will gradually develop fast-charging piles, stations and other infrastructures to establish the ecology for future commercial operations.
Power battery system is one of the core components of aircraft and its performance determines the range, stability, safety, and operational efficiency of the aircraft. The UFC/XFC batteries to be jointly developed by both parties for eVTOL aircraft will offer a full scale of advantages in terms of fast charging speed, which is expected to only take five to ten minutes to be charged from 30% to 80%, over 200Wh/kg high energy density of the battery system, and long cycle life of over 2,000 cycle times.
It will further enhance EHang’s eVTOL products in terms of safety, endurance, and operational efficiency, in order to better meet the core demands of convenience, efficiency, and economy for large-scale and high-frequency operations of eVTOL aircraft in urban low-altitude mobility.
Pei Feng, President of GBT, said: “The battery system is the ‘base station’ in the clean energy network, and its speed of energy flow affects the efficiency of industrial innovation and user experience. GBT is currently the only company in the world that has achieved mass production of constant-power high-rate power batteries, while EHang is the only company in the world that has achieved all three certificates for its passenger-carrying pilotless eVTOL aircraft.
“The cooperation between the two parties will explore an efficient operation mode for low-altitude transportation and propel further development and progress in the UAM industry.”
Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EHang, added; “We are pleased to join hands with GBT, a strong partner in the field of XFC batteries, and jointly create an XFC era for eVTOL aircraft. EHang’s EH216-S is in a critical stage entering into commercial operations with all the type certificate, production certificate and standard airworthiness certificate issued by the CAAC.
“Our cooperation will promote the establishment of UFC ecology for eVTOL aircraft, reduce the charging time of eVTOL, and strengthen the foundation for low-cost, large-scale and high-efficiency commercial operations in the low-altitude economy.”
