The post Take an ‘air taxi’ to an event for the 2034 Olympics? This Utah group wants to make it happen. appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

The post Archer Aviation opens first of two new facilities appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

The post Vic electric plane development centre takes off appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

The post VT-based Beta hosts president of U.S. Export-Import Bank to show off airplane factory appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

The post Electric airplane builder Beta Technologies is hiring and ushering in a new age of aviation appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

The post Virginia and Ohio Lead Group of States Forging a Collaborative Path to Develop AAM appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

A three-hour trip, trimmed down to a mere twenty minutes. That’s the future of regional transport, after the world’s first public eVTOL flight took off in south China. Aviation firm AutoFlight had its unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft fly between Shenzhen and Zhuhai – making the maiden flight to be the first cross-city and cross-sea journey globally. CGTN’s Omar Khan has more on this historic flight.

OMAR KHAN Shenzhen, Guangdong Province “No pilot or driver, no wheels, red lights and stop signs. An open sky that has no boundaries up to a certain altitude. This is the future of local and regional travel – eVTOLs taking to the skies and making our commute and travel that much more convenient.”

Flying taxis are seemingly the next breakthrough innovation that consumers will have access to.

This comes as Chinese aviation firm AutoFlight conducted its first public eVTOL flight across the Pearl River Delta in south China. Known as the “low-altitude economy,” the future bodes well for the industry in the Greater Bay Area, home to nearly 90 million residents.

XIE JIA Senior Vice President, AutoFlight “You look at the sky, there’s not many aircraft. The sky is a natural resource, and we haven’t really started using it. In the future when you imagine there are thousands of these EVTOLs flying, and accordingly with digital infrastructure managed well and safely, in this case it can bring a whole new level of transportation to the general public.”

The pioneering moment comes with much to celebrate – green aviation, avoiding congested roads and most importantly, shorter travel time. But the foundation for this new form of airborne travel relies on regulations and policy frameworks that ensure safety comes first.

LI JIAN Former Deputy Director, Civil Aviation Administration of China “More than 200 documents have been issued from seven ministries to provincial and municipal governments, all of which are policies that support the industry you mentioned. I believe that such a follow-up course will further promote the development of the industry. There are many standardized policies in our aviation industry, which are formed through the process of implementation. Some policies have yet to mature, and are lagging, therefore they are gradually being upgraded and revised.”

Having turned a three-hour journey into a 20-minute flight – one may ask, well, what’s next?

Accessibility, pricing, and most important, mass commercialization – all require a timeline and specifics for this industry to reach its full potential.

AutoFlight is not alone, with companies like EHang also a key player in the Chinese low altitude economy, while international innovators push forward healthy competition.

And with one projection saying the industry is set to contribute nearly 500 billion U.S. dollars to the Chinese economy by next year, policymakers and provincial transport authorities are already taking steps to welcome this ultra-modern form of travel. Omar Khan, CGTN, Shenzhen.

The post VIDEO: Low Altitude Economy: World’s first eVTOL cross-sea cross-city flight completed in Shenzhen appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

The European Investment Bank is paving the way for a greener future with its groundbreaking venture in green financing, doubling funds for sustainable projects and setting a new benchmark for environmental investments. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is setting a new precedent in green financing by embarking on an ambitious venture to purchase mezzanine debt from banks. This initiative, aimed at mobilizing €1.6 billion for environmental projects, involves the use of synthetic risk transfers to facilitate greater investment in areas that are often overlooked due to financial constraints. Nicolas Mardam-Bey, a prominent loan officer at the EIB, underscored the potential of this strategy to significantly amplify the funds directed towards sustainable development across Europe.

Revolutionizing Green Financing

At the heart of this innovative financial mechanism is a partnership between the EIB and various European banks. By engaging in synthetic risk transfers, banks have the opportunity to sell the second-loss portions of their loan portfolios to the EIB at yields more favorable than those typically demanded by the market. This arrangement is made possible through a counter-guarantee provided by the European Commission, which significantly reduces the risk for the EIB and, by extension, encourages banks to allocate more resources to green projects. Currently, discussions are underway with a German bank to further expand the reach of this initiative.

Empowering Sustainable Projects

The process involves the creation of tranches from approximately €11.5 billion worth of loans, with the EIB targeting the purchase of tranches that represent a 6% to 7% second-loss portion. This translates to an investment of roughly €100 million for each €1.5 billion loan portfolio. Such a strategic approach not only doubles the available funding for environmentally focused projects but also paves the way for investments in areas that traditionally struggle to secure financial backing. From renewable energy ventures to initiatives aimed at enhancing energy efficiency, the scope of projects poised to benefit from this scheme is extensive.

A New Dawn for Green Investments

The implications of the EIB’s groundbreaking venture are far-reaching. By effectively doubling the funds available for green investments, the initiative sets a new benchmark for environmental financing. It illustrates a tangible commitment to combatting climate change and promoting sustainable development. Moreover, this approach serves as a model for other financial institutions worldwide, demonstrating the feasibility of innovative financing mechanisms that can bridge the gap between economic development and environmental conservation.

As the world grapples with the urgent need to transition towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly future, the EIB’s initiative emerges as a beacon of hope. It embodies the potential of financial innovation to catalyze significant advancements in the realm of green projects, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations. With the EIB leading the way, the path towards a greener, more sustainable world appears not just possible, but firmly within our grasp.

The post EIB Spearheads Green Financing by Purchasing Mezzanine Debt to Unlock €1.6 Billion for Eco Projects appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee traveled to Eastern Washington Thursday to visit companies leading the state’s rapidly expanding battery hub.

Their tour included stops at Group14 Technologies and Sila, which are building factories that will produce next-generation materials designed to make lithium ion batteries — including those found in electric vehicles — more powerful and faster charging.

Both companies previously received $100 million grants created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund the new facilities in Moses Lake. The U.S. Department of Energy awarded the funding.

The efforts are part of the Biden administration’s push to stoke domestic battery production — a sector that in recent decades had largely shifted overseas. As the world weans itself off fossil fuels, batteries will play increasingly important roles in electrifying automobiles, planes and boats, as well as providing back up power for homes, businesses and the power grid, among other applications.

“America’s competitiveness depends on next generation innovation and scaling that to a level that makes America competitive in the manufacturing sector,” Cantwell said at an event hosted by Sila.

Cantwell was a proponent of the 2021 infrastructure bill, as well as other legislation in recent years promoting U.S. tech innovation.

Roughly three hours from Seattle, Moses Lake has established itself as a center for low-carbon technologies, including batteries and green aviation. The region has access to clean, affordable energy and the town is home to REC Silicon, a company that recently restarted its production of silane, a gas that’s a precursor to the silicon used in the battery materials.

On the visit with Sila representatives, Granholm called Washington “the tip of the spear of where the country is going on clean energy” and applauded the “amazing” work being done in Moses Lake.

California-based Sila broke ground in Moses Lake in November on its first automotive-scale manufacturing facility, which should start producing a silicon anode material by 2025. At full capacity, the plant is expected to produce enough material for 1 million EVs.

On Thursday, Sila’s leaders announced a workforce training program to provide hands-on learning for local students looking to develop technical, mechanical, electrical and software skills. The company is partnering with Big Bend Community College and Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, providing each with $1 million to help pay for new equipment and curriculum development.

Students completing the program will receive certification for entry-level operational and technical positions in manufacturing. Sila is also establishing internships.

Granholm praised the family-wage jobs that Sila and others are creating in the region. Young people will be able to pursue “a career path that has a mission,” she said, “and the mission, of course, being to heal the planet.”

The officials also visited Group14, which is constructing a commercial factory in Moses Lake dubbed Battery Active Materials or BAM-2.

The facility is comprised of two modules, the first of which is structurally finished and heavy equipment for manufacturing is being installed inside the five-story building. At the second module next door, concrete walls are up on the first and second floors, and the first pieces of major equipment are ready for installation.

Later this year, BAM-2 should start producing battery material, and the factory will have a 4,000 ton annual capacity — enough material for at least 200,000 electric vehicles, or 20 gigawatts of battery power.

Group14 is also completing construction of JV BAM in South Korea, which will be Asia’s largest factory for advanced silicon battery material.

A third company, OneD Battery Sciences, also broke ground in the Moses Lake in October. The startup is launching a smaller-scale facility aimed at pilot-scale production, with a target of producing 100 tons of silicon-graphite anode material annually, providing its partners with enough material for testing in EV batteries.

The post Energy secretary joins Sen. Maria Cantwell in visit to Washington state’s burgeoning battery hub appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.

Telefónica Tech has announced an alliance with China’s Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing Vehicles (eVTOL) company EHang which is launching its EH216-S model to the world on 1 April. The two companies are looking at what they dub the “low-altitude economy” and the vehicles would be used for the transport of passengers and cargo without a pilot on board in both Europe and Latin America. 

Naturally, visitors to Mobile World Congress (MWC) can check out the partners. EHang has chosen Telefónica Tech’s connectivity capabilities (5G and private networks) to enhance the security and efficiency of this type of mobility in both regions, and to continue expanding and exporting its smart solutions with unmanned aerial vehicles. 

Both companies intend to implement use cases in Europe and Latin America around air mobility and solutions in areas as diverse as passenger transport, logistics, health services, emergency response and smart cities management. The “low-altitude economy” will no doubt spawn a new “low-altitude insurance sector”.  

Telefónica and EHang will also collaborate on drone light shows with swarms of drones to digitalise and increase the sustainability of large-scale shows and events. The two companies have set out to develop connectivity solutions based on 5G mobile networks for the safe and efficient integration of drones and eVTOL aircraft with digital unmanned air traffic management systems (UTM and U-Space). Both companies rely on Telefónica Tech’s TheThinX laboratory and EHang’s Urban Air Mobility Centre in Europe, located in Spain. 

5G does the work 

Telefónica Tech believes 5G mobile networks have the capacity to guarantee reliable communications, low latency and high data transmission capacity in the development and integration of the urban air mobility sector. 5G make it possible to optimise the real-time control and monitoring of aircraft by sending telemetry or multimedia data to both ground control systems and centralised public information systems for immediate processing and management. Similarly, 5G helps to ensure the continuity of UAV operation by preventing potential interference and providing security through the encryption of SIM cards in UAVs. 

In addition to these attributes, in the case of private mobile networks, the level of privacy and security of the information obtained by the drone is enhanced by preventing data traffic from being shared outside the customer’s premises and can also provide coverage in isolated and remote areas. 

“The partnership with EHang means being part of a pioneering project for the air mobility of the future,” said Telefónica Tech global head of IT Alfredo Serret. “The fact that EHang relies on our connectivity to develop the sector in Europe and Latin America confirms the strong positioning of our service in both markets, and means combining capabilities to enable connected, safe, efficient and green air mobility for all.” 

“Telefónica Tech’s capabilities and expertise in connectivity and the internet of things will enable EHang to deploy its solutions efficiently and securely, allowing millions of people to benefit from its applications in their daily lives,” added EHang COO for Europe and Latam Victoria Jing Xiang.  

Ehang’s new EH216-S secured what it claims is the the world’s first Type Certificate and Standard Airworthiness Certificate for pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in 2023. 

Korea lift-off 

Telefónica is not the only telco wanting to enter this space with South Korea’s SK Telecom also signing an agreement with – in addition to investing $100m – Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service. The two make up one of seven consortia that have been selected for the Transport Ministry’s K-UAM Grand Challenge to compete and cooperate in bringing flying cars to Korea with their partners.   

Pictured: Alfredo Serret, global head of IoT at Telefónica Tech and Victoria Jing Xiang, EHang COO for Europe and Latam

The post Telefónica teams up with EHang on air mobility appeared first on Eco-Aviation Foundation International.