ePlane unveils full-scale electric air taxi prototype; flight tests targeted for 2027

IIT Madras-incubated aerospace startup The ePlane Company has unveiled e200X (PT-01), the first full-scale prototype of its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The unveiling took place at the company’s new 60,000-square-foot production facility at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Chennai. The e200X is being developed for passenger taxi, cargo, and air ambulance services.

Flight testing targeted for 2027


The aircraft will undergo ground tests before flight trials, which the company expects to begin around mid-2027. The initial flights will be conducted without a pilot, founder and technical lead Satya Chakravarthy told The Times of India.

“PT-01 shifts us from subscale testing straight into full-scale validation,” Chakravarthy said.

The latest schedule is later than the company’s previous plan to begin testing its full-scale aircraft in early 2026.

What is the e200X?

Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, commonly called flying taxis, can rise and land vertically like helicopters before switching to forward flight. This allows them to operate without a runway.

The e200X has a carbon-fibre composite airframe and a maximum weight of 2.2 tonnes. It measures eight by 11 metres and is designed to carry a pilot and either two passengers, or up to 200 kgs of cargo. The company is targeting a range of 110 km.

Its compact size is intended to allow operations from existing helipads and open lots, reducing the need for dedicated landing facilities. Any use of urban rooftops would, however, depend on regulatory and infrastructure approvals.

The aircraft uses an 800-volt system to power several electric motors. It has separate, fixed propellers for vertical lift and forward flight, instead of propellers that rotate between the two modes. The company said this reduces mechanical complexity and allows other motors to continue operating if one fails.

Testing and regulatory approvals

PT-01 is ePlane’s first full-scale aircraft and has not yet flown. The company’s smaller ATVA and e50 test aircraft have together completed more than 10,000 kms of test flights, according to ePlane.

The company received Design Organisation Approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in May 2023. This recognises its capability and processes for designing aircraft, but does not certify the PT-01 for commercial operations. The aircraft must complete testing and receive certification before carrying passengers.

Founded in 2019 by IIT Madras professor Satya Chakravarthy and Pranjal Mehta, ePlane has raised $21.5 million from investors including Speciale Invest, Antares Ventures, Micelio Mobility, and Naval Ravikant.