Joby Aviation Completes 154-Mile Test Flight - 2024 Launch on Track

Joby Aviation Completes Record-Breaking eVTOL Test Flight

Joby Aviation, headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, has successfully concluded the longest ever test flight for an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. The company announced on Monday that its full-scale prototype completed a journey exceeding 150 miles on a single charge.

Details of the Test

The trial took place earlier this month at Joby’s Electric Flight Base located in Big Sur, California. This flight represents the latest in a series of confidential tests undertaken by the company.

These tests are all geared towards securing certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and initiating commercial operations.

The prototype remained airborne for over one hour and seventeen minutes, covering a distance of 154.6 statute miles utilizing only one battery charge. The flight path followed a pre-determined route.

Although remotely piloted during this specific test by Joby’s chief test pilot, Justin Paines, the company intends to incorporate pilots directly within the aircraft when its ridesharing service becomes available to the public.

Company Background and Vision

For the past 12 years, Joby Aviation, led by JoeBen Bevirt, has been dedicated to the design of eVTOL aircraft. These crafts are engineered to take off and land vertically, similar to helicopters, yet operate with the forward flight characteristics of airplanes.

Importantly, they are significantly quieter than either traditional aircraft types.

Joby is among a growing number of startups striving to make electric air travel accessible to a wider audience. The company’s website illustrates a potential journey from Los Angeles International Airport to Newport Beach.

This trip, which typically takes over an hour and 44 miles by car, could be reduced to just 15 minutes and 35 miles using Joby’s service.

Joby’s goal is to realize such travel possibilities by 2024, and this test flight serves as a substantial indicator to the public, investors, and regulatory bodies that the company is progressing towards this objective.

Battery Technology and Funding

A key aspect of this achievement is the utilization of commercially available lithium-ion batteries, adapted for aviation purposes. This demonstrates the viability of Joby’s battery technology.

Balancing energy density for a 150-mile range with the power required for vertical take-off and landing presents a significant challenge, which Joby claims to have overcome through a specific combination of cathode and graphite anode materials.

Joby stands out as one of the most established and well-funded eVTOL developers, having secured nearly $800 million in funding.

• This includes a $75 million investment from Uber following Joby’s acquisition of Uber’s air taxi division, Elevate.
• A further $400 million investment came from Toyota Motor Corp.

The company is set to become publicly traded through a merger with Reinvent Technology Partners, a special purpose acquisition company, which will provide an additional $1.6 billion in capital.

While substantial, this funding reflects the considerable expense associated with designing and commercializing a new aircraft, potentially reaching up to $1 billion.

Future Implications

“We’ve achieved something that many thought impossible with today’s battery technology,” stated Bevirt. “By doing so we’ve taken the first step towards making convenient, emissions-free air travel between places like San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, Houston and Austin, or Los Angeles and San Diego an everyday reality.”

Further information regarding the test flight can be found in the accompanying video.