Joby, Clay Lacy Aviation Bring First Electric Air Taxi Charger to Southern California

The eVTOL manufacturer said the new infrastructure will add John Wayne Airport to its SoCal network, which also includes service in Los Angeles.

Jack Daleo

Monday, January 08, 2024 at 07:57 PM ET

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Joby Aviation’s prototype air taxi flies above the company’s flight test center in Marina, California. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation is installing Southern California's first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi charger at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, partnering with Clay Lacy Aviation's $100 million FBO redevelopment.
The installed charger uses Joby's proprietary Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS), which the company aims to establish as a universal standard for all electric aircraft by making its specifications freely available.
This development highlights a growing industry debate over charging infrastructure standards, as rivals like Archer Aviation and Beta Technologies advocate for the adoption of the Combined Charging System (CCS).
The installation is a key step toward Joby's planned launch of commercial air taxi service in the Greater Los Angeles area by 2025, offering zero-emission, low-noise flights.

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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi chargers are landing in Southern California for the first time.

Air taxi manufacturer Joby Aviation on Monday signed a definitive agreement with Clay Lacy Aviation—which operates full-service FBOs at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) in Los Angeles and John Wayne Airport (KSNA) in Orange County, California—to install the first electric charging system in the region.