This Chennai startup plans to unveil flying electric taxi prototype by next year

ePlane, a Chennai-based startup, is gearing up to unveil a certified prototype of a flying electric taxi by March of the following year. The company, incubated at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, is strategically focused on alleviating urban congestion through innovative aerial solutions. Their immediate goal involves commercializing drones capable of carrying payloads ranging from 2 to 6 kilograms within the upcoming months.

Satya Chakraborty, the visionary founder and CEO of ePlane, revealed that the startup is diligently crafting an eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. This aircraft, initially designed as a three or four-seater, boasts the potential for conversion into an air ambulance.

"Our target is to unveil the inaugural certified prototype by March of the subsequent year. Subsequently, we anticipate a trajectory toward certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a process likely to span several additional years," Chakraborty conveyed to PTI. As outlined on the startup's official website, the e-plane promises a swift travel experience, with a mere 14-minute journey to a destination that typically requires an hour by private vehicle. The overarching mission of the company revolves around mitigating urban congestion through the deployment of eVTOL technology.