Archer Completes Battery Pack Drop Test for Midnight Air Taxi

The evaluation is designed to verify the pack can withstand the impact of a crash from 50 feet, which could cause the battery to leak, catch fire, or explode similar to a fuel tank.

Jack Daleo

Friday, March 29, 2024 at 01:45 PM ET

Verified

Archer Aviation’s flagship Midnight air taxi is powered by six lithium-ion battery packs. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL aircraft successfully completed crucial battery pack drop tests, a significant step towards FAA type certification.
The tests, involving 50-foot drops at varying charge levels, are considered one of the most difficult for eVTOL aircraft, with Archer's batteries showing no failure and remaining functional.
This milestone paves the way for future "for-credit" certification testing with the FAA and highlights Archer's dedication to exceeding safety standards.
Archer is also partnering with NASA to further test and understand battery cell performance and safety under extreme conditions, with plans to expand collaboration on other critical eVTOL technologies.

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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi manufacturer Archer Aviation has reached what it says is a crucial milestone in its test campaign—one that could prove valuable as it pursues type certification for its flagship Midnight aircraft.

The company on Friday said it successfully completed a series of drop tests on Midnight’s battery packs, an evaluation it will need to complete again during for-credit testing with the FAA. A key step toward type certification for eVTOL designs, for-credit testing allows the regulator to gauge how well an aircraft conforms to its approved specifications.