SkyDrive hits latest certification milestone and shares first real-life image of its eVTOL in flight
Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive shared two exciting developments today. First, it has officially received a G-1 certification in Japan for its flagship “SKYDRIVE” eVTOL. This is a step forward for the aviation startup working toward commercial eVTOL operations in Japan and the US. In the meantime, SkyDrive also shared its first real-world images of its aircraft, including one in the air.
SkyDrive Inc. is a lesser-known name in the blossoming sustainable aviation segment, but it has been making quick progress in development on two continents while expanding its global customer base. A huge milestone on SkyDrive’s to-do list is reaching scaled eVTOL production. It intends to do so with the help of Suzuki, which has signed on to manufacture the aircraft in Japan.
In the summer of 2023, SkyDrive announced that it was establishing a US headquarters in South Carolina and had secured its first eVTOL pre-order. Its order books continue to grow as SkyDrive works toward achieving eVTOL flight certification in both the US and Japan.
While the company has made progress on that front, we had yet to see any images of its flagship eVTOL beyond renderings… until now. Today, SkyDrive shared first real-life images of its “SKYDRIVE” eVTOL alongside a certification update overseas in Japan.
SkyDrive eVTOL nabs G-1 certification from JCAB
Earlier today, SkyDrive confirmed that its flagship eVTOL aircraft had been issued a G-1 certification basis from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), the country’s equivalent organization to the FAA in the US. This milestone builds upon existing cooperation between the eVTOL developer and JCAB to eventually achieve type certification for the former’s “SKYDRIVE” 3-passenger aircraft.
Speaking of which, SkyDrive also shared its first official images of the SKYDRIVE eVTOL (seen above) before its official unveiling at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, where it will also perform demonstration flights to the public.
SkyDrive says it is continuing discussions with JCAB over its future certification plan in order to reach a finalized agreement as to the eVTOL testing schedule and procedures. Once a certification plan is in place, SkyDrive intends to begin eVTOL ground and flight testing in Japan.
At the same time, the eVTOL developer is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to validate a separate certification process for the SKYDRIVE eVTOL in the US. SkyDrive’s Chief Development Officer Arnaud Coville spoke to the company’s certification milestone and what the future holds:
We are pleased to announce that the JCAB has issued the G-1 certification basis that will apply to our first commercial eVTOL aircraft. We have reached this significant milestone through a series of respectful and collaborative discussions with the JCAB. The issuance of this certification basis represents the culmination of substantial efforts invested over several months. We are also thrilled with the recent progress achieved in our validation project with the FAA. Our prototype aircraft, which is currently undergoing an extensive series of flight tests, continues to accumulate valuable data as we make steady progress toward the upcoming demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo. As we pursue our certification roadmap and showcase the capabilities of our aircraft to the public, 2025 is set to become an important year for SkyDrive. We are delighted that the year is off to such a great start.
SkyDrive says its flagship eVTOL is undergoing flight tests in preparation for its official public unveiling at the World Expo 2025, which will kick off in Osaka on April 13, 2025, and run through mid-October.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul today announced it would loan $60 million to Revel to triple its EV charging infrastructure across New York City.
NY Green Bank (NYGB), the state’s clean energy investment fund and a division of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), is providing the loan to Revel, New York City’s largest provider of public DC fast-charging. It’s NYGB’s first EV charging infrastructure transaction.
The loan will allow Revel to more than triple its current New York City public fast-charging network in 2025. It will pay for the construction of 267 new charging stalls across nine sites and support the design and build of EV charging stations.
Revel will complete construction of the below 178 sites in the next 12 months, with the remainder to be completed by 2027. (Those with asterisks are in disadvantaged communities):
- 60 charging stalls in Maspeth, Queens, which will be the largest fast-charging station in the Northeast US
- 44 charging stalls near LaGuardia Airport, making it the largest fast-charging station near an airport in the US*
- 24 charging stalls at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), making it the largest charging station at the airport*
- 30 charging stalls in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
- 20 charging stalls in the Port Morris section of the Bronx*
Revel broke ground in November at JFK Airport, adjacent to the main rideshare vehicle waiting area, with support from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. With funding from NYGB, Revel will now be able to complete the construction of the 24 charging stalls. That site will open in Q1 2025 and is expected to be one of the busiest EV charging stations in the country.
NYSERDA’s president and CEO, Doreen M. Harris, said, “Increasing the state’s charging capabilities is a step forward in ensuring New Yorkers can plug in and drive clean, and we commend Revel’s leadership in this regard in a major hub and in high-impact locations such as major airports.”
Revel charging stations are open to the public on a 24/7 basis for any make and model EV. All chargers installed at future locations will have speeds of at least 320 kilowatts (kW).
Read more: Dandy Mini Marts chooses Tesla to install its first EV chargers
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Hyundai is set to shake up the EV market with advanced new batteries soon. In March, Hyundai will reveal its all-solid-state EV battery pilot line to the public for the first time. The “Dream” batteries promise to unlock more range, faster charging, and significantly higher energy density.
Hyundai will reveal its all-solid-state EV battery pilot line
During its 2023 CEO Investor Day, Hyundai outlined plans to become a leader in the EV battery space. Hyundai announced an investment of over $9 billion (KRW 9.5 trillion) over ten years to develop a range of batteries.
Hyundai is developing lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM), and all-solid-state EV batteries to cover all segments.
Last month, local reports surfaced that Hyundai was almost finished constructing an all-solid-state EV battery pilot line.
On February 9, industry sources (via ET News) said Hyundai will hold an opening ceremony in March for its next-gen battery research center in Uiwang, South Korea. Hyundai built the all-solid-state EV battery pilot line inside the new research facility.
The ceremony will mark the first time Hyundai unveils its new battery technology to the public. Several industry leaders and high-ranking officials will reportedly attend, including GM, which recently expanded its EV partnership with Hyundai.
Hyundai’s all-solid-state pilot line will begin full-scale production next month. Industry sources expect Hyundai will release a prototype powered by the new EV batteries by the end of 2025.
Hyundai will use the demo line to test the new battery technology. All-solid-state batteries are often referred to as the “Dream” EV battery because they have the potential to provide more range, faster charging, higher energy density, and safety than alternatives.
However, they are not yet commercially available due to poor stability and manufacturing hurdles. To put it simply, it’s much easier said than done.
Hyundai aims to begin mass-producing all-solid-state batteries around 2030, with the first EVs powered by the new tech arriving shortly after.
Hyundai’s opening ceremony comes after Honda unveiled its first all-solid-state EV battery pilot line in November.
Electrek’s Take
Although a pilot line is still a small step, it can be huge for Hyundai. Like many automakers, Hyundai currently gets its batteries from others like CATL, SK On, and LG Energy Solution, but with plans to build them in-house, it could get a considerable advantage over rivals.
Based on its E-GMP platform, Hyundai already has some of the most efficient electric cars on the market, including the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6.
With plans to launch its more advanced “eM” platform and in-house batteries, Hyundai has a chance to drastically cut costs, speed up output, and take a leadership role as the industry shifts to electric.
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