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 air taxi successfully completed critical battery pack drop tests, marking a significant milestone toward FAA type certification.
The tests, involving 50-foot drops at various charge levels, are considered one of the most difficult for eVTOL aircraft, with Midnight's batteries showing no failure and remaining functional.
This achievement paves the way for future "for-credit" certification testing with the FAA, for which Archer is already producing type-conforming aircraft.
Archer is also collaborating with NASA on battery testing to understand cell function in extreme abuse cases for advanced air mobility and potential spaceflight applications.

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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.