Air Taxi Firms Joby, Archer, Beta Announce Plans to Electrify Airports

The manufacturers will install electric aircraft chargers from coast to coast as they quarrel over whose charging system, Joby’s or Beta’s, should be the industry standard.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 07:05 AM ET

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A digital illustration depicts Atlantic Aviation’s Los Angeles FBO modified for eVTOL air taxi operations. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Beta Technologies have independently partnered with Atlantic Aviation to install electric charging infrastructure at FBOs across the U.S., preparing for future eVTOL air taxi operations.
A major conflict exists over industry charging standards: Joby advocates for its proprietary GEACS (Global Electric Aviation Charging System), while Archer and Beta support the GAMA-endorsed CCS (Combined Charging System).
The competing standards feature technical differences, such as GEACS's integrated coolant mechanism and multi-channel charging for distributed battery packs versus CCS's single-channel design.
The adoption of a single, universal charging standard is considered crucial for the accessibility and widespread success of the electric aviation industry, with both standards actively being deployed.

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A trio of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi manufacturers signed separate deals to electrify airport infrastructure—all with the same partner.

On Wednesday, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation joined Beta Technologies in collaborating with Atlantic Aviation, an FBO network and aviation services provider, to add electric charging stations to Atlantic locations across the U.S. The new infrastructure will open up the airfields to Joby’s S4, Archer’s Midnight, Beta’s Alia, and other electric air taxi designs.