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18-02-2025
Bureau Report + Agencies
NEW DELHI: The ePlane Company, an Indian electric aircraft startup, said on Monday it has agreed to supply 788 air ambulances in a deal valued at more than $1 billion, at a time when the country is grappling with worsening traffic congestion in busy cities.
Under the non-binding agreement, it will supply the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to ICATT, an air ambulance service provider, which plans to deploy them across all districts in India.
EVTOLs are seeking to revolutionize urban travel by developing battery-powered aircraft, which can take off and land vertically, giving commuters a chance to avoid traffic snarls.
India’s nascent eVTOL market also includes companies such as Archer Aviation, opens new tab and Sarla Aviation.
ePlane is targeting commercial operations by the latter half of 2026, with an initial production of 100 units a year, its founder Satya Chakravarthy told Reuters in an interview.
“We can ramp up our production and put things into the market to good use much more effectively with an air ambulance than directly going to an air taxi,” Chakravarthy said. “It’s possible for us to ramp up air ambulances a lot more organically, compared to having to go to a rush with an air taxi.”
The aircraft would have an initial range of about 110 kilometres (68.4 miles), which can later be increased to more than 200 kilometres.
ePlane, which has raised $20 million so far from investors, will look to start with three prototypes of the ambulances, accommodating a pilot, a paramedic and a patient, along with a stretcher.
Chakravarthy, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, where his startup is incubated, said another $100 million would be required to manufacture more prototypes in other forms, achieve type certification and begin commercial production.
In a major move to ease traffic congestion, ePlane is set to deliver electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to ICATT by the end of the decade. These battery-powered crafts promise a revolution in urban mobility by soaring above clogged roads, which is a timely enhancement for India’s cities. With plans to roll out 100 units yearly starting in 2026, ePlane aims to establish itself in the air ambulance sector before venturing into air taxis, as noted by its founder, an IIT-Madras professor. The current aircraft range of 110 kilometers is set to expand beyond 200 kilometers, aligning with the rising demand for urban air transport. As ePlane gears up for certification and scaling, it’s seeking an additional $100 million in funding to complement its existing $20 million.
The Indian eVTOL sector is rapidly expanding, with startups like ePlane, along with competitors Archer Aviation and Sarla Aviation, pushing the envelope in urban air mobility. This influx of innovative aerial solutions could transform how cities handle congestion, presenting new investment opportunities and advancements in urban transportation technology.
ePlane’s strategic plan mirrors a global push towards integrating eVTOLs into urban landscapes, a trend poised to transform city infrastructures worldwide. As major cities tackle traffic, these air ambulances represent a shift toward sustainable and efficient urban mobility solutions, emphasizing a future where city grids seamlessly extend into the skies.
