UrbanLink inks another electric aircraft purchase, committing to 27 Seagliders from REGENT Craft
Advanced air mobility (AAM) operator UrbanLink has just signed a new purchase agreement to bring even more electric aircraft to the Southeastern United States. Its latest purchase includes 27 all-electric Seagliders from REGENT Craft – a sustainable air mobility developer.
UrbanLink is a South Florida-based advanced air mobility (AAM) company dedicated to revolutionizing urban transportation by sea and air by deploying zero-emission mobility solutions, like electric aircraft and seagliders.
Per its website, UrbanLink is working to enable zero-emission, end-to-end travel within a 500-mile range by 2028 before expanding that range to 1,000 miles by 2030, beginning with its hub cities of Miami, Los Angeles, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The company believes its actions to date have adequately positioned it to become the first airline in the US to integrate electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into its fleet. That fleet is growing as well.
To date, UrbanLink has committed to purchasing from several eVTOL and electric plane developers, including Artemis sea crafts, Eviation Aircraft, and Lilium, as we reported back in June. Today, the AAM operator announced it is adding even more sustainable air mobility to its growing fleet in South Florida, as it has committed to purchase 27 electric seagliders from REGENT Craft.
UrbanLink to bring REGENT’s Electric Seagliders to Florida
UrbankLink shared details of its purchase agreement from REGENT in a press release today. The agreement includes 27 of the air mobility company’s flagship Viceroy electric seagliders (seen above), which offer space for 12 passengers plus two crew members.
UrbanLink says it will operate the Viceroy Seagliders through its airline network, servicing areas around South Florida and Puerto Rico. REGENT’s current electric seagliders models in development can reach aerial speeds up to 180 mph and will service routes up to 180 miles on a single charge. Per REGENT Craft’s website, the aircraft will eventually be upgradeable to fly over 400 nautical miles on a single charge “with next-generation battery technology.”
UrbanLink sees the multi-modal design of REGENT’s electric seagliders as the perfect vessel for coastal hubs since they can utilize existing docks and EV charging infrastructure. Company founder and chairman Ed Wegel elaborated on the opportunities UrbanLink’s latest purchase can bring:
Our partnership with REGENT further advances our mission to bring zero-emission regional travel to the U.S., with a specific focus on the Miami and San Juan markets. This order perfectly complements our previous commitment to electric sea vessels, all of which will seamlessly integrate with our all-electric eVTOL jets, expanding our reach and enhancing connectivity across the regions we serve. By embracing these innovative, zero-emission modes of transportation—whether by sea or air—we’re not only shaping the future of travel but also taking meaningful steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable environment for generations to come.
According to REGENT Craft, it intends to bring human passengers onboard full-scale electric seaglider prototypes this year. It has garnered orders for over 600 aircraft from airline and ferry operators worldwide, valued at over $9 billion.
UrbanLink expects to put REGENT’s electric seagliders into operation in 2027.
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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