Joby Releases Assessment of Air Taxi's Environmental Impact

The air taxi manufacturer set out to assess emissions from its current and future operations and said it’s the first to do so.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 02:06 PM ET

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Joby’s preproduction prototype aircraft in flight. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation released the eVTOL industry's first Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as part of its inaugural ESG report, projecting its air taxi will produce 1.5 times less emissions per passenger-mile than an electric car.
The report details key emission sources for the aircraft (inflight energy, battery manufacturing) and highlights current operational sustainability efforts, including 88% renewable electricity for California operations.
A noise assessment confirmed the Joby aircraft is exceptionally quiet, producing noise levels comparable to rustling leaves during cruise and quieter than a vacuum cleaner during takeoff/landing.
Joby prioritizes safety through a comprehensive Safety Management System (SMS) with anonymous reporting, alongside significant investments in workforce development, pilot training, and apprenticeship programs.

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Fresh off the rollout of its first production model aircraft and an FAA greenlight to begin flight testing, Santa Cruz, California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation has released what it believes is the industry’s first life cycle assessment (LCA) for air taxis.

The LCA is part of Joby’s inaugural environmental, social, and governance (ESG) report, which the company now plans to release annually. The report was led by Claire Boland, the company’s newly appointed sustainability lead who has held sustainability roles for about a decade with companies such as PepsiCo and PVH Corp.