The real cost of electric flight

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The promise of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has long been predicated on a single, seductive economic thesis: that replacing internal combustion engines with electric powertrains will collapse the operating costs of vertical flight to levels comparable with ground transportation.

Unveiling the Energy Dynamics of eVTOLs

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Typically, the energy appetite of an eVTOL ranges between 200 to 300 watt-hours per kilometre (Wh/km). This consumption is influenced by a myriad of factors including the design architecture of the vehicle, its cruising altitude, velocity, and the weight it carries. When juxtaposed with electric cars, which sip energy at a rate of about 150 Wh/km, the stark contrast underscores the more intensive energy needs of aerial travel.