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EHang’s Model 216
Amid all the excitement and grand claims surrounding the future of “air taxis” or “urban air vehicles,” a crucial underlying question emerges: “Where exactly will they land?”
Building the necessary infrastructure might not be as alluring as the captivating design of those bug-like passenger pods, but it is arguably the more fundamental prerequisite for the ultimate success of this technology.
EHang, based in Guangzhou, China, and one of the frontrunners in the vast landscape of passenger-carrying autonomous air vehicle (AAV) developers, has joined forces with the Italian architectural firm Giancarlo Zema Design Group (GZDG) on a vertiport design set to be constructed in Italy. This towering structure is inspired by the majestic African baobab tree, and is configured to sustainably support EHang’s AAVs with solar-powered charging stations. The photovoltaic non-slip panels that make up the landing area can generate over 300 kW of electric power per day, powering the plug-and-play charging stations for the AAVs.
EHang’s Model 216 is a two-seater AAV with 16 coaxial rotors. It has a flight endurance of approximately half an hour and has conducted thousands of test flights to date. Austrian aerostructures supplier FAAC AG is working in partnership with EHang to certify and build the 216 in Europe.
The structure of the 30-meter (98-foot) Baobab tower is made of steel and laminated wood. It includes a passenger waiting room and a restaurant with panoramic views. The landing area is located on the rooftop of the restaurant, and an elevator takes passengers and diners to the top of the tower.
According to EHang and GZDG, their aim in designing and constructing Baobab passenger terminals is to tap into the global eco-tourism sector, and “multiple projects” are in the planning stages in Europe and Southeast Asia.
There is currently no word on when these structures will start going up or how much they will cost.
