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Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies may have plans to provide its technology to cargo and medical transport to begin, but its longer-term goal is to implement passenger travel in its flagship ALIA eVTOL. Recently, the company shared a look at what that five-passenger vessel will look like before it launches commercial operations in the future.

BETA Technologies is a fully integrated electric aircraft and systems developer based in Vermont that we’ve been following for over three years after the debut of its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft – the ALIA-250, which has since been renamed the ALIA VTOL.

The ALIA VTOL has since been joined by an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) plane called the ALIA CTOL, which has flown tens of thousands of test miles to date en route to evaluation flights for FAA certification and is targeting full approval for commercial operations by 2025.

With the US Air Force project AFWERX as a partner and long-time collaborator, BETA has continued to develop its sustainable aviation technology, including international flights to Canada and a successful testing deployment with the US Air Force with the ALIA eCTOL.

This past April, BETA shared flight footage of the ALIA eVTOL, which could one day conduct passenger trips, transitioning from vertical takeoff to forward flight while in the air with a pilot onboard.

Unlike many other eVTOL developers, BETA Technologies is not solely focused on passenger travel and intends to begin flight operations for other segments, such as cargo transport. That said, eVTOL passenger flights are still a large part of BETA’s long-term plans, and the company is currently developing the aircraft that will make it possible.

Passenger eVTOL
A look at the interior passenger cabin of the ALIA eVTOL / Source: Beta Technologies

Beta to deploy passenger eVTOL rides after 2025 services

While BETA gears up for commercial operations in other transport sectors, it has offered the public an early look at a passenger variant of its ALIA eVTOL aircraft concept. BETA stated that the passenger version of the ALIA was designed to transport up to five passengers plus a pilot and offers enough cabin volume to accommodate carry-on and TSA-secure luggage.

The sustainable aviation specialist also shared that its passenger eVTOL variant has been optimized for range and volume and will one day be capable of completing intra-city and regional transport trips through the air. BETA founder and CEO Kyle Clark elaborated:

At BETA, we see electric aviation technology as transcending one single mission set. We designed ALIA to be a versatile platform that has tons of capability across sectors, and now we’re starting to step into that vision. With their high dispatch rate and low maintenance and operational energy costs, our electric passenger aircraft will unlock new routes for operators, further increasing the size of the pie.

As you’ll see in the video shared by BETA below, a passenger variant of the ALIA eVTOL is in the works, but it remains a work in progress. The company has been working alongside legacy operators to perfect the aircraft. Additionally, it has been incorporating design feedback from various regional and tourism operators to optimize for comfort, safety, and service.

Before we see passenger flights happen, we should see BETA aircraft performing other services, including transporting goods and equipment via cargo- and medical-focused eVTOL variants. Per BETA’s website:

Our first customer, United Therapeutics, needed to transport life saving medical equipment, organs and tissue, and the support teams required to help save lives. So, we built an aircraft fit to make that happen. UPS saw our aircraft and the potential for cargo space, and we worked to create a cargo option for the market, too.

BETA says those two eVTOL variants are expected to go into service as early as 2025, with passenger aircraft to follow sometime after that. If and when that does happen, the company already has a handful of customers lined up for passenger rides, including Blade, which placed a financially-backed order for up to 20 eVTOLs in 2021.

Additionally, LCI plans to transport guests to the Aria Hotels in Greece using BETA eVTOLs, and Helijet has placed a firm order for four aircraft with an option for four more, to be used for both cargo and passenger mission sets.

As promised, here’s a closer look at the development of BETA’s passenger eVTOL variant:

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Japan’s coolest looking electric cargo trike is now coming to the US

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Japan's coolest looking electric cargo trike is now coming to the US

For years I’ve followed progress of the STREEK cargo trike, a fascinating-looking electric cargo carrier from Japan. This utility-focused electric bike relies on a tilting-frame design with a rare tadpole trike setup, which is a more stable design that we rarely see in the electric trike market. And now this uniquely Japanese creation is making the long journey across the Pacific to the US, thanks in part of to the e-bike brand Vvolt.

The STREEK cargo trike is the brainchild of Envision Incorporated, a “forward-thinking design firm based in Yokohama, Japan, dedicated to developing innovative mobility solutions that blend utility and sustainability.”

It’s not a stretch to call them forward-thinking, as you can see how unique the STREEK appears in the market. Its innovative design has lent itself to jobs in a wide range of applications for diverse industries that all rely on rapid mobility.

With a fully-suspended front end that also tilts in the turns, the STREEK cargo trike is much more stable feeling than most other cargo trikes on the market.

In fact, it is designed to ride more like a two-wheeled bike, yet offers the advantages of stability and storage that come with larger three-wheeled designs.

The bike features a modular design that includes a single or dual-tier storage system, ensuring a large cargo capacity while maintaining a compact form factor. Intended for urban use, the small wheels and tighter turning radius make it ideal for navigating complex areas where mobility is critical.

Its unique “surround loop frame” allows for flexible cargo arrangements, enabling users to both load items onto the lower platform and suspend them from the upper frame. 

“STREEK’s unique design, with features that make it ideal for use in Japan’s cities and for adventures outside, has attracted attention all over the world. This partnership with Vvolt is an exciting opportunity to bring STREEK to e-mobility fans in North America,” said Harry Uden, president of Envision Incorporated.

Vvolt is excited for the opportunity, as the company’s Founder and CEO Kyle Ranson explained. “We’re thrilled to work with Envision Incorporated to adapt their innovative STREEK design for the US market. Its tilting suspension and multi-level cargo storage make it perfect for the growing demand for sustainable and efficient urban mobility, and it’s an incredibly unique design with huge potential,” said Ranson.

While the Japanese version of the e-bike uses a 250W-rated mid-drive motor and is limited to under 25 km/h (15 mph), it’s not yet known if the US version could be upgraded to take advantage of less restrictive e-bike regulations.

We’ll have to wait and see for more information on the specifications of the US version and potential pricing.

Until then though, let us know what you think of the STREEK cargo e-trike in the comments section below!

Images via: @streek_ecargo

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BYD launches major hiring spree as record-breaking run heats up

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BYD launches major hiring spree as record-breaking run heats up

BYD went on a hiring spree over the past few months as sales and profits reached new levels. With momentum building, China’s EV leader is drastically ramping up production and expanding its workforce to meet the higher demand.

After selling a record 1.1 million new energy vehicles (EVs and PHEVs) in the third quarter, BYD’s net income surged to $1.6 billion (RMB 11.6 billion) on revenue of $28.2 billion (RMB 201.1 billion). Both were new quarterly records.

It was also BYD’s first time surpassing Tesla in revenue, which posted $25.47 billion in Q3 revenue. However, BYD’s figures include plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models and EVs.

As vehicle sales continue gaining momentum in China and overseas, BYD went on a major hiring spree to help fuel the expansion.

According to BYD’s executive vice president, He Zhiqi (via Reuters), the company hired nearly 200,000 new employees between August and October. BYD also ramped up production by close to 200,000 units to meet the higher demand.

BYD-hiring-spree
BYD Atto 3 production (Source: BYD)

BYD goes on hiring spree as sales, and profits surge

BYD’s dominant performance continued after vehicle sales topped 500,000 for the first time last month.

The company sold 500,525 passenger vehicles in October, 310,912 of which were PHEVs and 189,614 were EV models. Through October, BYD’s NEV sales topped 3.25 million, with 1.87 million being PHEV models.

BYD-hiring-spree
BYD Seagull (Dolphin Mini) testing in Brazil (Source: BYD)

With 1,169,579 all-electric models sold through the first nine months of 2024, BYD is still slightly behind Tesla in the global EV race with 1,293,656 vehicle deliveries.

BYD sold another 189,614 EVs last month, bringing its total to 1,359,193. Since Tesla does not report monthly figures, we will have to wait until the Q4 numbers come out.

BYD-sales-500,000
BYD’s wide-reaching portfolio (Source: BYD)

Although BYD is widely recognized for its extremely affordable vehicles, like its best-selling Seagull, which starts under $10,000 (69,800 yuan), China’s EV leader is rapidly expanding into new segments.

Electrek’s take

With new pickup trucks, mid-size smart SUVs, luxury models, and electric supercars launching, BYD’s recent hiring spree should come as no surprise.

With an influx of competitive models entering China, BYD is looking to key overseas regions like Southeast Asia, Europe, and South and Central America to drive growth. The company opened its first manufacturing plant in Thailand this summer, with several more planned in Hungary, Turkey, Brazil, and Mexico.

Starting as a battery maker has given BYD a drastic advantage as the industry shifts to electric vehicles. Not only does it build batteries for its vehicles at a low cost, but BYD also sells them to rivals like Tesla, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

BYD also owns most of its supply chain, driving down costs further. For its popular Dolphin, BYD makes every component in-house except the windows and tires.

After it stopped building gas-powered models in 2022, BYD’s quick shift to electric models is paying off. With aggressive price cuts and new lower-priced models, BYD has declared a “liberation battle” as it aims to continue taking market share from ICE vehicles.

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Joby Aviation completes first international air taxi flight in Japan alongside Toyota [Video]

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Joby Aviation completes first international air taxi flight in Japan alongside Toyota [Video]

Fresh off a $500 million investment from Toyota, eVTOL air taxi developer Joby Aviation has taken its aviation technology to Japan for the first time to demonstrate sustainable flight capabilities for its business partner, which you can view in the video below.

Joby Aviation ($JOBY) continues to advance in the growing yet nascent segment of eVTOL air travel by demonstrating the capabilities of its technology and garnering huge financial support from its investors.

Joby completed its first flight with a pilot onboard in October 2023, which quickly led to a demonstration in New York City ahead of full-fledged eVTOL air taxi operations planned for sometime in 2025.

Early believers like Toyota Motor Corporation, who joined the eVTOL fold in 2019, have invested hundreds of millions in funding. Toyota, which remains the largest OEM in Japan, has deployed dozens of its engineers to work alongside Joby’s team to support the aviation company in designing its eVTOL factory and manufacturing processes in preparation for high-volume production in the US.

Last month, Toyota nearly doubled its previous investments in Joby Aviation, providing $500 million to help the company reach certification and scale production of its eVTOL air taxis. To build on its partnership, Joby took its experimental eVTOL air taxi to Japan for its first international demonstration flight above Shizuoka with a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji as its backdrop.

  • Air taxi Japan
  • Air taxi Japan

Joby completes exhibition air taxi flight in Japan

Over the weekend, Joby Aviation completed a demonstration air taxi flight above Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Shizuoka, Japan, without a pilot present onboard.

The event, attended by executives from both companies, including Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda, marked the first time the air taxi had flown internationally. It demonstrated a vertical takeoff followed by a horizontal flight above Japan. Per Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bivert:

Our first overseas flight marks a significant milestone on our journey towards making clean air travel an everyday reality. We share Toyota’s vision for the future of mobility and are honored to have had the opportunity to present a glimpse of that future through our flight in Japan.

In addition to Toyoda and the Motor Corporation’s executive vice president and chief technology Hiroki Nakajima, other major stakeholders and representatives from Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau were in attendance for the air taxi flight demonstration, which can be viewed below.

Following the test flight in Japan, Joby and Toyota intend to continue their long-term business agreement to bring eVTOL air taxi travel to the masses. Toyota’s most recent investment in the aviation company will help it establish a manufacturing alliance to support its first phase of eVTOL commercialization. Here’s the test flight video:

Source: Joby Aviation

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