First drop test with an eVTOL lithium-ion battery

Beta Technologies is reportedly the first company to have conducted a drop test to evaluate the safety of flying with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and to assess the performance of the battery in the event of a crash.

The test involved suspending a fully charged 800 V lithium-ion battery pack by crane and dropping it onto a hard surface from a height of 15 meters, simulating a scenario in which the eVTOL experiences a malfunction and falls to the ground. The purpose of the drop test is to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its battery during flight.

Beta Technologies has conducted a drop test on its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft battery to ensure its safety and performance in the event of a crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires fuel tanks on planes and helicopters to be drop-tested from a height of 50 feet or 15 meters, and Beta has applied this standard to its eVTOL batteries.

The test, which involved dropping a fully charged 800 V lithium-ion battery pack from a crane onto a hard surface, was successful, meaning that the battery survived the fall without significant damage. The results of the test will help to clarify the safety requirements for eVTOLs.