Airbus Delays Electric Air Taxi Due to Battery Technology
Airbus Helicopters has paused development of its electric air taxi program, citing insufficient battery technology to support the aircraft’s intended mission. The company’s CEO, Bruno Even, announced the decision, stating that battery technology needs to significantly improve before a full-scale development program can be launched.
Photo Source: Electrive
Airbus Helicopters has decided to halt development of its CityAirbus NextGen electric air taxi program due to concerns about insufficient battery technology.
The company’s CEO, Bruno Even, announced the decision during a press briefing, stating that current battery technology does not meet the performance requirements needed for the air taxi’s intended mission: transporting four passengers over distances of 80-100 kilometers.
Even emphasized the need for significant advancements in battery technology, a process he believes will take considerable time. While the CityAirbus NextGen demonstrator will continue flight testing throughout 2025 to gather valuable data, Airbus Helicopters has concluded that launching a full-scale development program at this time is not feasible.
The company plans to leverage the technologies developed for the CityAirbus NextGen demonstrator in other areas of its business, including both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
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