Beta Sells Electric Aircraft Chargers to Archer, Partners to Expand Network

Beta is developing two variants of its all-electric Alia, but the manufacturer hopes to install charging infrastructure for all aircraft to use.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, November 07, 2023 at 01:51 PM ET

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Beta’s Alia eCTOL aircraft charges at one of the company’s 14 sites across the eastern U.S. [Courtesy: Beta Technologies]

Key Takeaways:

Beta Technologies and Archer Aviation have established an industry-first partnership to adopt a shared, interoperable charging system for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The collaboration aims to standardize eVTOL charging around the Combined Charging Standard (CCS), a widely used protocol for electric ground vehicles, which is also endorsed by major aviation OEMs and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
This standardization is crucial for the eVTOL industry's scalability, as it will reduce infrastructure costs, boost confidence, and enable rapid aircraft turnaround times essential for widespread electric air taxi services.

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In the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) space, type certification dominates many discussions. But what good is a type-certified electric aircraft with a dead battery?

Beta Technologies and Archer Aviation, two leaders in the eVTOL industry, can tell you: not much. In what the companies are calling an industry-first agreement, Beta and Archer are collaborating on the adoption of a shared charging system for electric aircraft, one that any eVTOL model can use. As part of the deal, Archer purchased several Beta charging stations.