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The best-known eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) coming from Brazil and connected to one of the most reputable aircraft makers worldwide, the Brazil-based Embraer, is set to conquer America (like the rest of them). Eve Air Mobility has kept its electric air taxi under wraps for a long time, but is now actively expanding its development program in direct connection to the US market.
Eve Air Mobility want to make sure that its eVTOL will be powered by batteries from the industry giant BAE Systems, along with other important components from US-based suppliers. In the end, it all comes down to money, which means that Embraer’s urban air mobility subsidiary is focusing heavily on financing.
Knowing that other very promising eVTOL programs (the German Volocopter) fell to pieces simply because of the lack of the right funding at the right time, it’s easy to see why money boosts are incredibly important for AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) companies anywhere in the world. For Eve Air Mobility, the latest success is an agreement with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank) and the Private Export Funding Corporation (PEFCO).
This financing solution will specifically be used to secure to cover the expenses with what Eve Air Mobility calls “critical” US suppliers. The most important one is BAE Systems, which is providing the batteries for this original electric air taxi developed in Brazil.
Having a name like BAE Systems as part of its supplier list is not just about the performance of the final product, but also about a market advantage when considering international customers and whether the overall package comes with a steady supply chain – no serious buyer would want to invest in an aircraft with uncertainty regarding the sourcing of its components.
What Eve wants in the end is to secure a reliable US supplier chain as part of its expansion on the American market, and it’s ready for it, as the Eve eVTOL was officially unveiled last year.
Prior to that, Eve had announced that the eVTOL feature brand-new “Embraer-optimized wings”. What made these new wings special was the modular design, making them compatible with standard containers and easier to ship worldwide. Once again, international customers were the main consideration, as easy shipping would be another attractive selling point of the Brazilian eVTOL for operators in different parts of the world.
Although the US market and US suppliers are at the top of the list, Eve is aiming for global deliveries, just like most eVTOL makers. One of its most recent and important deals was with Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications.
The Eve eVTOL was specifically chosen for qualities such as the smart air conditioning and UV and infrared protection, which are perfectly compatible with the Bahrain climate, as well as the Lift& Cruise configuration that can diminish the impact of sand and dust
