--- title: "United Thinks There’s a Future in Electric Helicopters" date: "2022-09-09" modified: "2022-09-09" authors: - name: "Victoria Scott" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/victoria-scott" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/united-thinks-theres-a-future-in-electric-helicopters" categories: - "News" tags: - "Aviation" - "Electric Vehicle" --- # United Thinks There’s a Future in Electric Helicopters ![]() *\Eve Air Mobility\* United Airlines announced Friday a $15 million investment in Eve Air Mobility, an e-VTOL craft manufacturer. Eve Air Mobility is a startup established in 2020 that promises a "new mobility experience" centered on electric vertical takeoff-and-landing crafts that operate [similarly to helicopters](). The company, which is owned by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, is one of several e-VTOL manufacturers vying to be the first to market. It's also the second e-VTOL company that [United Airlines has invested in]() during the past year as part of its push to be net-zero-carbon-emissions by 2050. [The announcement]() stated that United has the option to purchase 200 of the e-VTOL Eve aircraft, with an option for up to 200 more. United expects to take delivery as early as 2026. Eve, for its part, has tested its air-taxi concept in several markets and intends to perform another test in partnership with United in [Chicago next month](). However, its proof-of-concept [flights use helicopters](), rather than its electric multi-rotor e-VTOL. This is because the multi-rotor e-VTOL design Eve has developed has only been tested in small-scale models and simulators, and [type certification for the craft]() is not expected until 2025 at the earliest. The future aircraft has promising specs, with a simplified design that minimizes moving parts and uses a pair of rear rotors for thrust instead of a rotating tilt-rotor setup. It promises a range of up to 60 miles and is intended to carry four passengers and one pilot. Eve claims that the craft will be [autonomous in the future](), and then it will have the capacity for [six passengers](). Unfortunately, the company still hasn't announced plans for full-scale tests, and it's unclear how it intends to make [air-taxi services cost-efficient](). A senior figure at the company simply said that the company's goal is "to hit a price point where more people can take air mobility as a mode of transport." It enters a crowded theoretical market, as well, as it isn't just traditional air carriers attempting to break into air-taxi service: even [Uber invested millions]() in its own air-taxi business (before selling it off in 2020). Uber does still [offer helicopter rides]() in New York City from certain locations in Lower Manhattan to JFK, but those cost upwards of $200 a flight for an eight-minute trip; it's unclear how the e-VTOL transport would cost significantly less than helicopters do. For United's part, it's the second high-profile investment in heavily futuristic tech following an investment last year in [supersonic jet manufacturer Boom](), another aviation startup that has yet to demonstrate a full-scale working prototype or achieve regulatory approval. United's optimism is inspiring, but I remain a bit skeptical. Who knows though, maybe we'll all be taking an air taxi to get groceries by 2027. You know, [when all the cheap cars have stopped existing]()? *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Victoria Scott is a former staff writer for The Drive. She began in the automotive industry as a freelancer in early 2021, fresh out of a programming job at NASA Mission Control. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Instagram]() [Twitter]()