Electric aviation, especially vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, has been generating significant buzz in recent years. While there has been much excitement and anticipation, commercial applications have been slow to materialize. However, recent developments suggest that electric VTOL aircraft may be closer to becoming a reality than many think.
Toyota’s recent investment in Joby Aviation is a strong indicator of the potential for electric aviation. By investing an additional $500 million, Toyota is demonstrating its confidence in Joby’s technology and its vision for the future of air mobility. This investment comes on the heels of Joby’s successful test flights and the launch of an air taxi service in Dubai.
Joby has been making steady progress towards commercialization. It has recently expanded its manufacturing facilities and completed key milestones in the certification process. These developments suggest that Joby is well-positioned to bring its electric air taxi to market in the near future.
While electric aviation’s future is unclear, recent tech and corporate interest hint at progress. As batteries improve and costs drop, electric VTOL could become a sustainable transport option.
Reference- Toyota Online Newsroom, Clean Technica, Interesting Engineering, Futurism