Evolito, the aviation e-propulsion spinoff from axial flux motor developer YASA in the UK, continues to expand the use of its permanent-magnet axial flux motor technology in the aviation industry. Three recent developments include:
- Selection as electric engine partner by vertical take-off and landing aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace;
- Participation in a group development effort to apply its technology to power on-board taxi propulsion systems for conventional aircraft;
- Selection by Electra to supply innovative wing-lift propulsion for hybrid-electric flight of new class of “direct aviation” aircraft.
In the deal with Vertical, the upstart developer of eVTOL aircraft has chosen Evolito to supply its electric propulsion units to power Vertical’s flagship Valo commercial eVTOL aircraft and the two companies will jointly work toward gaining government flight certifications for the system. The system includes Evolito’s
DAL-A power electronics that are integrated into the e electric engine to provide the extended range, high performance and built-in redundancy required for Valo’s entry into commercial service. These are critical requirements for Valo’s certification to equivalent safety standards as large commercial airliners, targeted in 2028.
Headquartered in Bristol, UK, Vertical Aerospace is focused on pioneering electric aviation with eVTOL aircraft. It has partnerships with leading aerospace companies including Honeywell, Syensqo and Aciturri and has assembled about 1,500 pre-orders of Valo with customers across four continents including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines. In March, it announced finalizing a financing and investment package that provides $850 million in capital availability toward its development programs.
Vertical is also developing a hybrid-electric variant offering greater range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the Advanced Air Mobility market, with Evolito’s EPUs integrated into the platform. The hybrid-electric variant is scheduled to begin flight testing in mid-2026.
“Vertical’s approach to Valo is grounded in rigorous engineering and certification discipline. Our collaboration is centred on delivering a propulsion system that provides the performance, redundancy and reliability required for airliner-level safety standards, while remaining practical for commercial operations. It’s a partnership built around getting the fundamentals right,” said David King, Chief Engineer, Vertical Aerospace.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Vertical Aerospace, a company that shares our vision for a cleaner, more connected future. Our engines are designed to meet the rigorous demands of aerospace, and we’re excited to contribute to the success of Vertical’s aircraft with propulsion systems that deliver unmatched performance and efficiency,” commented Chris Harris, CEO of Evolito.
“Vertical is taking a rigorous, certification-led approach to electric aviation, and we’re proud to support that journey. Valo reflects the kind of disciplined engineering and long-term thinking required to bring electric flight into real-world service, and we will continue to work closely with the Vertical team and their partners as the programme progresses toward certification,” noted Dave Shilliday, Vice President & General Manager, Advanced Air Mobility, Honeywell Aerospace, whose company is another technology partner and also a key investor in Vertical.
E-propulsion for on-board aircraft runway taxiing
Project SONATA (System Optimisation of Non-propulsive energy in Aircraft Taxi technologies and Architectures) is a collaboration with Airbus, supported by government funding through the Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK, to develop an on-aircraft, electric wheel taxi system. The system will enable aircraft to taxi independently from ground support equipment with the main engines switched off, resulting in considerable reductions in operating costs, noise and emissions. The project aims to decrease taxi emissions by 47%.
Evolito has been selected to develop a low speed, high torque electric motor based on axial flux motor technology for the project. Expected to deliver about 56Nm/kg and provide 350kW@ peak power, the proposed motor is also expected to meet the integration requirements for future landing gear applications.
“Evolito is thrilled to collaborate on project SONATA. By developing low speed, high torque motors for aircraft landing systems, we are extending the performance envelope of our technology and contributing to the reduction of aviation’s environmental impact whilst also reducing operating costs. This collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the aerospace sector,” noted Harris.
Electra signs on for hybrid electric propulsion from Evolito
In October, aircraft developer Electra selected Evolito to supply electric engines for the EL9 Ultra Short Hybrid-Electric Aircraft. Electra’s EL9 will use eight Evolito electric engines arrayed across the front of the wing to deliver the blown-lift that enables the aircraft to take off and land in only 150 ft. Test flights are planned for 2027, with certification and commercial service entry anticipated in late 2029. The company has reported collecting more than 2,200 pre-orders from about 60 commercial customers worldwide.
The distributed electric propulsion system enables the EL9’s ultra-high lift, delivering low airspeeds and precision landings for “direct aviation” service that can connect communities in ways never before possible,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra.
Electra’s nine-passenger EL9 Ultra Short combines patented blown-lift technology and distributed electric propulsion to take off and land in just 150 feet, dramatically reducing noise and emissions while unlocking thousands of new access points for air service. Using electric engines to blow air over the wing and large flaps significantly increases wing lift at very slow speeds, allowing the EL9 to take off and land in just 1/10th of the space needed by conventional aircraft. Powered wind tunnel tests of the EL9’s blown wing have validated lift coefficients greater than 20, or seven times greater than the range typical of unblown wings
For more info, see www.evolito.aero, www.vertical-aerospace.com, www.electra.aero.
