e200X eVTOL Prototype: ePlane’s Electric Air Taxi
Why in the news
An Indian startup displayed a real electric air taxi, shifting from computer designs to hardware trials.
Key facts
- Maker: The ePlane Company, founded 2019 by IIT Madras professor Satya Chakravarthy, who is also linked to Agnikul, GalaxEye and TuTr Hyperloop.
- Model: e200X, first prototype PT-01.
- Next: flight trials, then certification.
What is an eVTOL
A zero-emission, battery-driven aircraft that climbs and lands vertically like a helicopter, then cruises on wings like a plane.
Key concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| UAM / AAM | Small aircraft moving people or cargo within and between cities |
| DEP | Several small electric motors replacing a single big engine; adds redundancy, safety, efficiency |
| Tilt-rotor | Rotors that pivot between vertical and horizontal; mechanically complex |
| Digital twin | Virtual copy used to simulate and test before building |
| LiDAR | Light Detection and Ranging, for 3D mapping and obstacle detection |
Exam angle
- Incubator: IIT Madras.
- Prototype code: PT-01.