The EH216-series pilotless electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft (eVTOL) from EHang recently completed a point-to-point flight across the Qiongzhou Strait, marking a significant milestone for inter-provincial low-altitude mobility.
The aircraft traveled 22 kilometers from Nanhai Mingzhu Island in Hainan Province to Xuwen Port in Guangdong Province. The journey was completed in 18 minutes, representing a substantial reduction from the 60 to 90 minutes typically required for a ferry crossing. This 70% to 80% improvement in travel efficiency validates the technical capabilities of pilotless eVTOLs for over-water operations and establishes a technological foundation for coordinated mobility between the two provinces.
Equipped with a high-energy solid-state battery co-developed by EHang and Inx Energy, the aircraft demonstrated stable performance in complex maritime environments. This battery technology provides the necessary support for diverse applications, including island tourism, maritime emergency response, and logistics. The flight also serves as a precursor to longer-range operations within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Technical preparation for the crossing involved rapid route planning and weather surveying. The EHang team utilized data from previous flights conducted in extreme conditions, including altitudes exceeding 3,000 meters, typhoons, and heavy snow. During the strait crossing, the aircraft maintained stability despite rapidly changing winds and waves, showcasing the high-redundancy safety systems inherent in the pilotless design.
Xiao Faxuan, Chairman of Hainan Airport Group, said, “EHang’s successful pilotless eVTOL flight across the Qiongzhou Strait is a vivid example of innovative development in Hainan’s low-altitude economy. We will seize the opportunity presented by the Free Trade Port’s special customs operations to build a pioneer zone for low-altitude economy applications, empowering industrial development through practical applications and making the low-altitude economy a new growth engine for the Free Trade Port. We will also deepen collaboration between Hainan Province and Guangdong Province, integrate policy and industrial resources across both provinces, facilitate smooth cross-province air mobility, and unite powerful synergies for low-altitude economy development, thereby infusing greater vitality into the Hainan Free Trade Port.”
The successful mission establishes a potential low-altitude corridor between Hainan and Guangdong, supporting the development of a regional application ecosystem. This infrastructure is expected to alleviate congestion during cross-strait transport and enhance circulation efficiency for cross-border logistics at the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Wang Zhao, Chief Operating Officer of EHang, added, “The successful crossing of the Qiongzhou Strait by our EH216-series pilotless eVTOL validates its adaptability and the efficiency gains it brings in complex environments like over-water routes. This achievement is also a significant result of our collaboration with partners to comprehensively enhance core safety performance and jointly build a diverse application ecosystem.
“Coinciding with the historic opportunity of the Hainan Free Trade Port’s special customs operations, the low-altitude economy—a key emerging sector for the Port—is facing promising growth prospects. EHang will leverage this opportunity to continue empowering diverse applications in Hainan, including long-distance logistics, and emergency response, with our pilotless aircraft technology. We are committed to supporting Hainan in building a national innovation and demonstration hub for the low-altitude economy.”
