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 successfully completed critical drop tests on its Midnight eVTOL aircraft's battery packs, a significant step towards FAA type certification.
The tests involved dropping fully charged, 30%, and 0% charged battery packs from 50 feet, with the batteries showing no signs of failure and remaining functional.
This milestone is crucial as the battery pack drop test is considered one of the most difficult for eVTOL aircraft, demonstrating the batteries' resilience to severe impact.
Archer plans to conduct for-credit testing with the FAA and is also collaborating with NASA to further research and ensure the safety and integration of its battery technology.

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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.