These planes could change the way we fly

So far, no eVTOL has been launched commercially, although several companies have announced plans to enter commercial service in 2025.

Right now, companies are testing prototypes and showing what they can do – a company called Autoflight broke the world record for the longest eVTOL flight last month. The plane traveled just over 155 miles (250 kilometers), about a mile more than the previous record, held by Joby.

But despite impressive test flights, questions remain about how close we really are to seeing commercial eVTOLs reaching for the skies.

Getting regulatory approval could be a sticking point. Both the US and European agencies plan to classify eVTOLs as a special class of aircraft, meaning they will be subject to a different set of requirements than conventional aircraft. There is still some uncertainty as to how this whole process will play out, especially in the United States.

However, some companies are moving forward. Archer began construction of a manufacturing plant in Georgia earlier this year, which could begin production as early as 2024 and manufacture up to 650 planes a year.

What would eVTOLs mean for the climate?

Replacing fossil-fuel planes with electric planes could be a win for the climate.

As for more conventional planes, an electric plane charged using an average grid could reduce emissions by around 50% compared to a fossil-powered plane. If electric planes are instead recharged using all renewable energy, emissions reductions will climb to a maximum of 88%. Most of these remaining emissions are from battery production, as they will likely fly and recharge a lot, batteries may need to be replaced every year or so.