Results for: lilium

Lilium’s Phoenix 2 technology demonstrator has achieved transition from hover modes to fully winge-borne flight, the company said this week in a press release. The first of it kind in the eVTOL space, Lilium has now successfully demonstrated a transition from hover to winged cruise with its eVTOL jet.

Before this announcement, the Lilium jet had moved forward through the air, but had still been in hover mode, generating lift only through its doward facing motors. Now, the jet’s motors have tilted to their fully forward-facing positions, so that the aircraft’s lift is generated by the wing, while the motors provide forward thrust for cruise.

From a flight physics perspective, completing transition means the airflow going over the wings becomes smooth and consistent, allowing the lift to be generated by the wing (as in conventional fixed wing aircraft), rather than by by the downward-facing motors (which is the case during the hovering/VTOL phase). To achieve this, the aircraft needs to moving at a fast enough hover speed to get airflow over the wings to generate sufficient lift. In the case of the Lilium jet, this speed is about 45kts, at which point the aircraft reaches full transition.

Lilium’s Phoenix 2 has now achieved this milestone across the entire main wing while, most importantly, remaining stable and behaving as predicted by Lilium’s proprietary Flight Dynamics Model.

Watch Lilium team members explain the transition process below:

Matthias Meiner, Phoenix Chief Engineer and Lilium Co-Founder of Lilium said: “Main wing transition is a huge step forward on our path to launch and it validates our Flight Dynamics Model. Full credit goes to the outstanding Lilium team who worked so hard to get us here, and who remain laser-focused on the rest of the Flight Test Campaign.”

Lilium will continue its Flight Test campaign throughout the summer, expanding the flight envelope further, including transition of the forward canards and high-speed flights.

Why it matters: Founded in 2015, Lilium’s eVTOL design is unique in that it features in-wing micro jet engine propulsion rather than external propellers as seen in aircraft from Joby Aviation or Beta Technologies. With this major developmental milestone completed, the company has put itself back into the spotlight of upcoming aircraft. Combining this achievement with a large order from NetJets earlier this year and a vertiport network being built in Florida, Lilium’s aerial mobility vision is building ever closer to reality.

Source // Lilium

Related:

• Lilium’s Phoenix 2 Starts Flight Tests in Spain (April 2022)
• Lilium Unveils Cabin Configurations (March 2022)
• NetJets to Buy 150 Lilium eVTOL Aircraft (March 2022)
• Lilium Partners with ABB for Charging Infrastructure (February 2022)

Lilium, the Munich-based eVTOL developer, has selected Aernnova, a leading aerospace component manufacturer, to collaborate on the Lilium Jet’s propulsion mounting system.

A propulsion mounting system or “flap”, the structure that forms the rear part of the wings and front aerofoils, is one of the Lilium Jet’s major components, producing lift by interacting with airflow from the engine. It also houses the propulsion and vectoring systems responsible for vertical and horizontal flight.

Electric jet engines integrated into the wing flaps provide advantages in payload, aerodynamic efficiency and a lower noise profile, while also providing thrust vector control to maneuver the Lilium Jet through every phase of flight.

Aernnova and Lilium will work together on the design, manufacture, and supply of the Lilium Jet’s flap structure.

Aernnova is one of the largest Tier 1 aerospace suppliers, providing aerostructure for companies such as Airbus, Boeing and Embraer. The collaboration represents a significant step towards serial production of the Lilium Jet and Lilium’s goal of making sustainable high-speed regional transportation a reality.

The Lilium Jet’s propulsion mounting system will feature a complex and unique design. The integrated system will serve multiple functions and be modular and scalable. It will utilize lightweight material such as carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy.

Yves Yemsi, Chief Operating Officer of Lilium, said: “Aernnova is an industry leader for customized design and manufacture of metallic and composite assemblies, which makes them an ideal partner. It is important to us that we collaborate with the best aerospace suppliers and leverage their expertise.”

Ricardo Chocarro, CEO of Aernnova, said: “With 28 years of expertise in developing and creating aircraft structures, we are proud to be contributing to a project as exciting and unique as the Lilium Jet. This all-electric jet has the potential to change the aviation industry in a positive, sustainable way, and we are delighted to be a key partner.”

Why it’s important: Aernnova is a leading aerostructure company specializing in the design and manufacture of composite and metallic structures for aeronautical programs. Technological Development and Innovation is one of Aernnova’s strategic growth vectors to achieve its goal of a net zero aviation industry, and this partnership with Lilium further propels that initiative forward.

Lilium has partnered with Honeywell and DENSO, who will co-develop and manufacture the Lilium Jet’s electric motor (e-motor) that will power the Lilium Jet’s engines. Honeywell is already developing the Lilium Jet’s avionics and flight control systems and has been invested in Lilium since 2021.

The Lilium e-motor is a proprietary, high-performance system, on which Lilium, DENSO and Honeywell teams have been working for nearly two years. It is expected to bring exceptional performance and reliability with zero operating emissions typically associated with commercial jet engines. An air-cooled design offers structural simplicity and ease of maintenance compared with traditional liquid cooling systems, and therefore has the potential to significantly reduce aircraft operating costs.

The e-motor has its rotor and stator in a centrifugal or ‘radial’ configuration, compared to traditional axial designs. This lowers the component’s weight, manufacturing costs and susceptibility to foreign object damage. It also boasts industry-leading power density, with the first prototypes designed to extract over 100kW of power from a system weighing just over 4kg.

Yves Yemsi, Chief Operating Officer of Lilium said: “Lilium’s Procurement strategy is to engage with the technology providers with the most suitable expertise. We are already making great progress with Honeywell on its Honeywell Anthem integrated flight deck and flight control computers, and we are delighted to deepen our relationship by also partnering with Honeywell and DENSO on our e-motor. The collaboration with these two powerhouses takes us further along the path to revolutionizing regional air mobility.”

Stéphane Fymat, vice president and general manager of Urban Air Mobility, Honeywell Aerospace said: “Honeywell has been at the forefront of innovation in aviation for a century, and we are proud to closely collaborate with DENSO and help usher in the age of electric flight. Lilium’s innovation, combined with our experience in aerospace, will help to bring about cleaner, more sustainable ways for people to travel for centuries to come.”

Koji Ishizuka, senior director of the Electric Sora-Mobi Business Promotion Department at DENSO, said: “DENSO’s focus is powering the shift to a green, safe and seamless mobility future for all. We’re grateful to work with Honeywell and Lilium on making air travel cleaner and more efficient, and in doing so, we have the opportunity to apply our electrification expertise to vehicles on land and in the sky.”

Why it’s important: Honeywell is a leader in aerospace technologies with over 100 years of experience, and already has an alliance with automotive giant DENSO to develop aerospace electric propulsion solutions. Through this collaboration, the Lilium Jet’s e-motor will benefit from Honeywell’s aerospace expertise as well as DENSO’s experience in high-quality volume production.

Lilium has grown from Germany to Spain ahead of the next phase of flight testing of its Phoenix 2 technology demonstrator in the country. The testing will be based out of Spain’s ATLAS Flight Test Center. According to a company press release, Lilium plans to expand the flight envelope of the aircraft through full transition and high-speed flight. These developments come after successful flight testing with the same aircraft in southern Germany last year.

Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder and CEO of Lilium said: “We are excited to have kicked off our next phase of flight testing in Spain. This step takes us even closer to reaching our goal of creating a sustainable and accessible mode of high-speed, low noise regional air mobility.”

Together with excellent weather conditions, the ATLAS Flight Test Center provides optimal infrastructure and enables aircraft to fly over a large, unpopulated area while transitioning fully to high-speed wing-borne flight. The modern facilities and support from the Andalusian Foundation for Aerospace Development (“FADA”) and Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies (“CATEC”) have been instrumental in setting Lilium up for a successful flight test campaign.

Lilium also plans to introduce an additional demonstrator aircraft, Phoenix 3, which is scheduled to arrive in Spain for a first flight this summer. This aircraft is expected to significantly accelerate the flight test campaign, allowing Lilium to increase learnings and reduce program risks.

In other news, Lilium recently announced it has delayed its expected entry to commercial service by 12 months to 2025 in a communication to investors. Lilium expects to begin construction of its first certifiable prototype in 2023.

Why it matters: The move to Spain offers excellent year round weather for Lilium to conduct testing of its flight test prototypes. This will allow more regular testing throughout the winters, which are normally cold and rainy in southern Germany. What remains to be seen is if the move will help Lilium ensure its new expected delivery dates.

German eVTOL developer Lilium, having recently partnered with NetJets to begin integrating eVTOL aircraft into its fleet, has now released renderings of the various cabin seating configurations that may be ordered for the aircraft. So far, the three types of cabins include a six-passenger version, a ‘club’ version with a four-passenger more luxurious and spacious seating arrangement, and a cargo version.

Lilium has been prototyping its eVTOL aircraft since as early as 2015, when it released footage of a much smaller (but very similar) version of its eVTOL jet. Unlike many eVTOL aircraft, the Lilum jet is unique in that it uses around 36 ducted fans / jets to provide propulsion. These jets, integrated with the wings of the aircraft, can rotate to vector thrust that allows for either vertical or forward flight, with all-electric top cruising speeds of about 175mph.

Since beginning its work in 2015, Lilum has been progressively releasing larger and larger versions of its aircraft. Starting with a two-seater prototype, the company unveiled a five-seater version in 2019, and most recently released its largest aircraft, a seven-seater configuration prototype.

Now, Lilium has announced that its production version will of the aircraft will have three different interior configurations designed for various market applications. The first, its original configuration, features comfortable room for six passengers plus a pilot.

The next version, targeted at passengers (or possibly private owners) that are willing to pay a little extra for a more spacious and luxurious interior, has room four passengers, and includes desks and tables for working or dining in flight. This version would be best suited for corporate customers who travel regionally for work and would potentially conduct meetings or business while in the air.

And finally, Lilium has also released renderings of the cargo version of its aircraft, which displays how the spacious interior can be used for regional logistics shipping of cargo.

Why it’s important: Lilium recently announced a partnership with one of the world’s largest private jet charter and fractional ownership companies, NetJets, which included an order for 150 of Lilium eVTOL aircraft. While some operations partners will prefer to use the six-passenger version of the Lilium jet to be more economical, customers of Netjets who are accustomed to traveling by private jet and who often book out an entire aircraft rather than a single seat will be looking for an eVTOL that is more similar to how they have been flying. With these new cabin configurations, Lilium has branched its market out its market to also include the large segment of passengers who previously flew by private jet.

NetJets this week announced its plans to purchase 150 of Lilium’s eVTOL aircraft per a recently released memorandum of understanding (MOU). The news came in a February 28th statement to investors and stated that NetJets would also operate the eVTOL aircraft as part of its existing Part 135 charter network.

NetJets is currently one of the world’s largest private jet charter companies, selling membership programs that allow customers to book flights on a large range of private jets. Its fleet includes over 750 aircraft, and flights can be booked with as little as 10 hours notice.

“We are very excited to be working together with the world’s largest private jet company, NetJets,” said Lilium vice president of business Sebastien Borel. “The U.S. market will be a good test for us to see how far we can go. But it’s meant to be global, and we’re confident this will drive us to be global.”

This announcement comes after Lilium previously told investors that it plans to build an eVTOL network in central and southern Florida to connect larger cities with new and existing vertiport infrastructure. It is likely NetJets will partner with Lilium on this operation in Florida and could even help in selling some Lilium eVTOLs to private owners.

Lilium hopes to certify its eVTOL and begin passenger transport by 2024. Its latest prototype is a six-passenger aircraft capable of cruise at 175mph for a range of 162 nautical miles per flight.

Learn more about the Lilium eVTOL jet here.

Why it matters: NetJets, one of the largest operators in the fractional ownership/jet-card space, has extensive experience in the Part 135 industry and will be an extraordinary partner for Lilium’s operations. Lilium has also secured partnerships with Brazilian airline Azul, and even with Lufthansa for pilot training. With these extensive partners and its expert team, Lilium (and the eVTOL industry altogether) may well start receiving even greater interest from investors.

Lilium, the well-known German developer of a seven-passenger eVTOL jet, has selected ABB as its partner to provide charging infrastructure for its all-electric aircraft.

Lilium and ABB, a large industrial robotics and technology firm, have formed a partnership in which ABB will begin building the fast-charging infrastructure for Lilium’s planned air taxi network, set to launch in 2024. The ‘MegaWatt’ chargers provided by ABB will fully charge Lilium aircraft batteries in 30 minutes, and charge them to 80% capacity within 15 minutes. These fast charging times will enable Lilium to operate the 20-25 flights per day it plans to complete with each aircraft. Each full charge will enable Lilium jets to travel for about 155 miles, with cruising speeds up to 175mph.

According to the agreement between the two companies, ABB will “develop, test and supply” the MegaWatt fast charging infrastructure. Said Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s E-mobility Division, “Combining Lilium’s mission to grow sustainable aviation with ABB’s global market expertise and leadership in e-mobility and charging infrastructure is a win for the environment and a win for passengers.”

He continued: “We see this planned partnership as an important commitment to all relevant charging standards that are adopted by multiple electric ‘vehicle’ manufacturers. By supporting the new MegaWatt charging standard, ABB E-mobility is paving the way for the electrification of all modes of transport, from cars and trucks to marine vessels, mining vehicles, and now, aviation.”

Each MegaWatt Charging System (MCS) made by ABB will allow direct current (DC) charging of up to 1000 kW and can also be used for electric heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks and buses. An MCS unit will be included at every veriport in Lilium’s regional air taxi network, and will adhere to the relevant standards that support interoperability for a variety of vehicles and applications.

Daniel Wiegand, CEO and Co-Founder of Lilium, commented, “Making sure we have the right charging infrastructure will play a crucial role in enabling our high-speed regional air network by allowing quick and efficient charging. We are proud to be working with ABB, who bring decades of experience in electrification and software, to set the charging industry standard for electric aviation.”

Why it’s important: ABB is an industrial technology firm with decades of expertise in developing transportation infrastructure, and has already had a history of great success in developing charging infrastructure for electric ground vehicles. By teaming up with ABB, Lilium has even more greatly added to its team of transportation industry experts, further setting itself up as one of the top European eVTOL network operators set to launch in the next few years.

Related:

• Lilium Lists on the Nasdaq, Completes Business Combination with Qell Acquisition Corp
• Lilium Inks $1 billion Deal with Leading Brazilian Airline
• Lilium Chooses Munich and Nuremberg for Initial Air Taxi Hubs

ABB E-mobility has been confirmed to be the provider for the charging infrastructure for Lilium’s eVTOL aerial mobility network. With this agreement, ABB will provide development, testing, and supply services for the MegaWatt fast charging systems that will be used in Lilium’s network. In addition, the ABB charging points will be designed to be capable of bringing batteries to full charge within 30 minutes and 80% charge within 15 minutes, which will be enough for the 20-25 flights per aircraft per day that Lilium plans for its global vertiport network. The network currently will offer services in Brazil, Germany, and the United States, with plans to expand further. 

ABB is a global technology company that focuses on energizing essential services in modern society and industry in order to provide a more sustainable future. The company’s MegaWatt Charging System (MCS) will allow for DC charging of up to 1000 kW and can also be used in heavy duty applications such as trucks or buses. 

Daniel Wiegand, CEO and Co-Founder of Lilium stated that, “We believe that the decarbonisation of aviation is both urgent and inevitable. Making sure we have the right charging infrastructure will play a crucial role in enabling our high-speed regional air network by allowing quick and efficient charging. We are proud to be working with ABB, who bring decades of experience in electrification and software, to set the charging industry standard for electric aviation.”

According to their website, ABB “engineers the electrification solutions for the transport of tomorrow, today. Including smart transportation solutions from EV chargers for the home, through electrified fleet depots and opportunity charging for electric bus and trucks, to high-power chargers for the highway stations of the future.” 

Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s E-mobility Division stated that, “Combining Lilium’s mission to grow sustainable aviation with ABB’s global market expertise and leadership in e-mobility and charging infrastructure is a win for the environment and a win for passengers. Moreover, we see this planned partnership as an important commitment to all relevant charging standards that are adopted by multiple electric ‘vehicle’ manufacturers. By supporting the new MegaWatt charging standard, ABB E-mobility is paving the way for the electrification of all modes of transport, from cars and trucks to marine vessels, mining vehicles, and now, aviation.”

Lilium’s seven seater Lilium Jet, the flagship aircraft for the company’s global vertiport network, will possess a range of 155 miles with a cruise speed of 175 mph.

Why it’s important: In 2019, global CO₂ emissions from all commercial air operations reached 918 million tons, an increase of 29% since 2013.. With passenger transport responsible for 780 million tons, or 85%, of the total emissions from air operations, decarbonisation of transport is a vital step in the fight against climate change and building a more sustainable future. 

Source // eVTOL Insights

Another giant in aerial mobility has gone public this week; Lilium has announced that it has completed its business combination with Qell Acquisition Corp, a publicly listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The transaction was approved by Qell’s shareholders on September 10, 2021, during a Special Meeting in which more than 98% of the votes cast were in favor of the business combination. As of September 15, 2021, Lilium’s Class A ordinary shares and redeemable warrants will trade on the Nasdaq under the symbols “LILM” and “LILMW”, respectively.

“In 2015 with the clear vision that the decarbonization of aviation is inevitable, we set out to build a team and product that would radically transform the way the world moves. Six years and five generations of technology demonstrator aircraft later, we’re closer than ever to this goal. Today’s milestone will bring us even closer to launching our service in 2024 and making sustainable, high-speed regional air travel a reality to communities around the world,” said Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder and CEO of Lilium.

As a result of the business combination, Lilium will receive approximately $584 million of gross proceeds, prior to transaction expenses, including from funds managed by leading strategic and long-term financial investors including Atomico, Baillie Gifford, LGT and its affiliate impact investing platform Lightrock, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Tencent, Ferrovial, Palantir, Honeywell, FII Institute and private funds affiliated with PIMCO. Net cash from the transaction will be used to fund the commercial launch of Lilium’s 7-Seater Jet. Lilium’s existing shareholders will roll 100% of their shares into the combined company.

“We see Lilium as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will be at the forefront of a whole new industry. Lilium has the capacity to revolutionize regional travel, saving people hours so they can quickly travel from city to city. Using its 7-Seater Lilium Jet, Lilium’s regional shuttle service should enable sustainable, high-speed transportation. Qell is proud to bring this exciting company to the public markets,” said Barry Engle, CEO and Co-Founder of Qell.

Why it matters: With this SPAC acquisition, Lilium has positioned itself on the public market and adds to its leadership the likes of Thomas Enders and David Neeleman. Lilium has over 700 employees across Europe and is making continual progress towards EASA certification and entry into commercial service.

Source: Lilium Press Release

The agreement between Lilium and Azul, a major Brazilian airline, includes pre-orders for 220 of Lilium’s eVTOL jets. Together, the two companies will build an exclusive eVTOL network in Brazil, with a service launch planned for 2025.

More than just a purchase of aircraft, this agreement represents a strategic alliance between Azul and Lilium to fully build out an eVTOL transportation network in Brazil. Together, the two companies will build a co-branded transportation system, which will provide efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective air travel to the 100 million air passengers that travel within the country yearly. Although the Lilium Jet was developed in Germany, the company’s goal has always been to provide its highly innovative air transportation all parts of the world. Currently, Brazil’s market represents one of the world’s largest for civilian air transport and helicopter transport, which Lilium and Azul hope to augment and possibly eventually completely replace with Lilium’s all-electric vertical aircraft.

Accroding to a recent press release from Lilium, Azul would expect to operate and maintain the Lilium Jet fleet, while Lilium would provide an aircraft health monitoring platform, replacement batteries and other custom spare parts. Azul also expects to support Lilium with the necessary regulatory approval processes in Brazil for certification of the Lilium Jet and any other required regulatory approvals.

The 7-seater Lilium Jet can cruise at speeds of 175 mph, with a range of up to 155 miles. Unlike any other eVTOL concept, the aircraft uses 36 rotating miniature jet engines, that allow to take off vertically and travel on a fixed wing in forward flight. A full-scale prototype of the aircraft has already been built and flight tested. Watch a tour of the aircraft’s interior below:

Said Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder and CEO of Lilium: “Azul has brought convenient and affordable air travel to underserved markets across the Americas and this makes them an ideal partner for Lilium. We’re excited to work with Azul’s seasoned team to deploy a co-branded eVTOL network in Brazil.”

Said John Rodgerson, CEO of Azul, “Azul is the largest domestic airline in Brazil in terms of cities served and daily departures. Our brand presence, our unique route network, and our powerful loyalty program give us the tools to create the markets and demand for the Lilium Jet network in Brazil. Since Azul’s founding 13 years ago, the Brazilian aviation market has doubled with Azul capturing almost 60% of the growth. We know how to create and grow new markets, and once again we see huge market opportunity by bringing the Lilium Jet to Brazil”

Why it’s important: With Lilium already making partnerships to enter markets within the U.S and Europe, and other eVTOL companies making deals with large airlines such as Virgin and United Airlines, this announcement from Lilium enters it onto the stage for partnerships and integrations for regional air travel with the world’s largest airlines. As eVTOL companies evolve, we will likely expect to see a combination of major airline partnerships with eVTOL companies making their own networks, which together will begin to form the overall eVTOL global ecosystem within different countries and cities.

Source // Lilium

Related:

• United Airlines Orders $1B in Archer Vehicles
• Virgin Atlantic, Brazil’s Azul Airlines Lay out plans for eVTOL Aircraft Purchases
• BLADE Announces Deal for Operator’s Order of up to 20 BETA EVA’s

Lilium has engaged with Honeywell, a world-leading manufacturer of electronics, engines, and mechanical systems for aircraft, to develop the 7-Seater Lilium eVTOL Jet’s avionics and flight control systems. Honeywell’s Compact Fly-by-Wire System will act as the flight control system on the all-electric 7-Seater Lilium Jet, responsible for controlling its moveable parts, including the 36 control surfaces and ducted fans that provide its high levels of maneuverability in every stage of flight.

Honeywell, one of the first major aerospace manufacturers to create a dedicated Urban Air Mobility business unit, has designed a flight control system that draws on its decades of experience providing such systems for commercial airliners. This system, which has been tailored for the Lilium Jet’s unique design, will play a crucial role in ensuring smooth, comfortable, and emission-free air travel for passengers.

Yves Yemsi, Chief Program Officer at Lilium highlights that “Honeywell will integrate an advanced flight deck tailored for Lilium Jet as the central interface to the pilot with a vehicle management computer and a high integrity flight controls computing platform to provide a state-of-the-art Fly-By-Wire solution for the Lilium Jet.”

Alongside the flight control system, Honeywell is delivering the next generation of integrated avionics systems, which will provide a simplified user interface for the pilot to fly the Lilium Jet. The selection of Honeywell’s next-generation UAM avionics system is the result of ongoing collaboration between Lilium and Honeywell to converge on the specific technical requirements suitable for the Lilium Jet. The avionics system is designed to reduce training time and will support operation by a single pilot, freeing up greater passenger capacity.

“At Honeywell, we believe in the promise of the Urban Air Mobility segment and we see the enormous potential it has to bring about a new age of aviation and forever transform the way we think about flight and transportation,” said Stéphane Fymat, vice president and general manager of Urban Air Mobility, Honeywell. “Lilium shares that vision with us, which has enabled us to forge a fantastic relationship. We’re extremely excited for our avionics to be on board the Lilium Jet, where they will help ensure not only safe operation, but also make it easier for pilots to fly and provide a more comfortable journey for those onboard.”

In addition to its selection as a provider of the flight control system for the 7-Seater Lilium Jet, Honeywell is also participating in the common stock PIPE offering in connection with Lilium’s SPAC transaction, and is providing similar systems to Pipistrel, Vertical Aerospace, and Volocopter.

Following Toray Industries, Aciturri, and Lufthansa Aviation Training, Honeywell is the latest in a series of world-class Lilium suppliers whose technology and services have been certified in aerospace around the world for decades. They are joined by infrastructure leaders, such as the Tavistock Development Company, and Ferrovial, a leading airport operator, who have provided approximately $200 million in commitments to support the development of up to 14 eVTOL ertiports in Florida.

Why it’s important: As stated by Yemsi, “the avionics and flight control computers from Honeywell will be a key element for the Lilium Jet’s electronic architecture.” Honeywell has a decades-long track record of developing and certifying avionics and safety systems for leading aerospace companies, and is quickly becoming a leader in eVTOL aerial mobility technology by providing these advanced systems to many rapidly evolving top aerial mobility companies.

After recently unveiling its 7-seater eVTOL jet, Lilium has made news again by selecting Munich and Nuremberg to host the company’s initial air taxi hubs.

Discussions for air taxi infrastructure have been in the making for several years. Companies like Volocopter have already been laying down this groundwork in Singapore and Frankfurt, while EHang has started setting up several hubs in China and even begun tourism operations.

Lilium has begun discussions for an air taxi hub in Florida in the U.S, but also has its attention strongly on European plans. The company hopes to establish its main aerial mobility network in Europe, starting by partnering with existing airports in Munich and Nuremberg. On April 19th, a press release by the company stated that the two hubs in Munich and Nuremberg will enable it to offer air connections between different locations across all of southern Germany.

Said Daniel Wiegand, Lilium’s CEO: “We are doing everything we can to bring our all-electric and ultra-quiet airline service to our home base of Bavaria, as well as to link Munich and Nuremberg even more closely with neighbouring cities and regions. We also want to offer a service for everyone in the Southern German region, with attractive prices and great time savings for all travellers. Munich and Nuremberg airports are key mobility hubs that we will connect with large and small cities throughout the region over time.”

The company’s ultimate goal is to establish aerial mobility networks in highly trafficked cities throughout the globe. In order to do, it has also partnered with Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial to build at least 10 vertiports in Florida and abroad.

Why it’s important: Lilium is fast becoming one of the world’s leading developers of both innovative eVTOL aircraft and the infrastructure that they will require. Joining companies like Volocopter, Joby Aviation, and EHang, Lilium is slowly transitioning its attention from aircraft development to roll-out plans, signaling the quickening growth and forward progress of the air taxi industry.

Lilium has officially announced its intention to list on Nasdaq through a merger with Qell Acquisition Corp., a transaction that values the combined company at approximately $3.3 billion pro forma equity value at the $10.00 per share PIPE price. Simultaneously, the company revealed the development of its 7-Seater electric vertical take-off and landing jet, which employs proprietary Ducted Electric Vectored Thrust (“DEVT”) technology, and is projected to deliver the best unit economics, with market-leading capacity, low noise and high performance. Lilium’s vision is to create a sustainable and accessible mode of high-speed, regional transportation. The Munich-based company is building a transport network and service for people and goods around its 7-Seater Lilium Jet, an electric vertical take-off and landing jet, which offers impressive capacity, low noise, and high performance. The 7-Seater Jet has a projected cruise speed of 175 mph at 10,000 feet and a range of 155+ miles, including reserves. It is the culmination of five years of technology development across four generations of technology demonstrators, including Lilium’s full-scale 5-Seater. Furthermore, Lilium received CRI-A01 certification basis from EASA for the vehicle in 2020. Qell Acquisition Corp. (“Qell”) is a publicly listed special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, and is focused on developing next-generation, sustainable mobility under the leadership of Barry Engle, a former president of General Motors North America. Upon closing of the transaction, the company will be called Lilium, and it is anticipated that ordinary shares will be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LILM. The combined company is expected to receive approximately $830 million of gross proceeds from a fully committed common stock PIPE offering of $450 million, along with approximately $380 million cash held in trust, assuming minimal redemptions of Qell’s existing public stockholders. To date, Lilium has secured approximately $200 million of commitments from infrastructure partners, including Ferrovial and Tavistock Development Company. Up to 14 vertiports are already planned in Florida. Lilium is also in advanced discussions with key infrastructure partners for 10 vertiports to build a network across Europe. Related: Lilium to Announce Air Taxi Hub Coming to South Florida this Spring Why it’s important: This announcement marks a significant milestone for Lilium, as the proceeds from the merger and public offering will be directed toward serial production and commercialization of the 7-seater Jet. Working in partnership with world-leading aerospace, technology and infrastructure partners, commercial operations are planned to launch in 2024. Notably, Lilium is betting on a vertical integration approach to invent urban air mobility, an approach that Dean Donovan calls “risky” in a recent editorial first published via Forbes. Source // Lilium press release

German eVTOL manufacturer Lilium is reportedly in talks with Qell Special Acquisition Corporation, according to persons involved closely to the matter. Closure of a potential deal that values Lilium at over $2 billion would be another instantiation in a series of announcements including BLADE UAM’s deal with EXPC, Archer (ACIC), and Joby (RTP), all assuming SPAC mergers in order to maximize available capital while massively cutting the risk involved.

While discussions are underway, there is no firm indication of deal proceedings advancing at this time, and if terms do not finalize the discussion could terminate with Lilium being approached by any other number of SPACs poised to make entry into the aerial mobility market.

TransportUP previously reported in February of 2021 on Lilium’s proposed Floridian operations network, an aerial mobility network that would be the result of a joint collaboration between Lilium and Ferrovial SA (construction counterpart) that includes design and build of 10 vertiports.

Qell is led by Barry Engle, a former GM executive. According to SEC filings, the SPAC raised $350 million in a September IPO. The fund stated that investment targets would include next-generation mobility, sustainable industrial technology, and enabling technologies that support development.

Another firm that is unspoken for within the eVTOL space currently is that of New Vista Acquisition Corp (NVSAU), which IPO’ed on February 17th with a $240 million raise slated for investment in the same fields as Qell, with the addition of artificial intelligence and other enabling technologies. Any proposed eVTOL acquisition target of New Vista would be pure speculation at this point, but companies like Lilium would fit the defined scope of the SPAC’s investment strategy. NVSAU Board Member Kirsten Bartouk Touw reported to evtol.com that the focus of the SPAC spans a wider scope than strictly eVTOL manufacturers, and includes companies that are ready to go public.

Why it’s important: 2021 has been a banner year for investment in aerial mobility. Billions of dollars of investment have poured into the industry over the past three months, and additional funds, SPACs, and private investors alike are poised to take advantage of the potential long-term growth and value propositions of aerial mobility as they stake financial commitments toward the industry which still carries a respectable quantity of risk. As further deals close, expect leaders among aerial mobility to more firmly cement their standing among the ranks of other eVTOL companies as they benefit from the increased amount of resources and financing.