Vertical Aerospace, which has been developing the VX4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi since 2016, on Monday revealed it is expanding its portfolio.
The U.K. manufacturer said it will retrofit one of its VX4 prototypes with a hybrid-electric propulsion system it claims will deliver 10 times the range, with flight testing anticipated to begin in mid-2026.
The all-electric VX4 has a range of 100 sm (87 nm) and is geared primarily toward short-hop passenger flights. But the company’s hybrid-electric concept could find customers in defense, logistics, air ambulance services, and other applications where eVTOLs fall short. It said it is “actively engaged in discussions” with governments and other prospective customers that are eyeing those use cases.
“Our hybrid-electric VTOL strategy builds on our existing electric platform, world-class battery technology and large, versatile airframe, allowing us to offer uniquely scalable solutions that unlock a new frontier in air mobility and revenue stream for Vertical,” Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical, said in a statement.
The biggest upgrade the hybrid-electric concept offers over the VX4 is its range: up to 1,000 sm (869 nm), a tenfold increase. Its propulsion system—developed over the past 18 months and built around proprietary battery systems—can be integrated on the VX4’s airframe “without requiring major redesign,” Vertical said.
The new model’s capacity, up to 2,425 pounds, is identical to its predecessor but can be configured for different payloads. It is also being developed to be flown crewed, remotely, or uncrewed, which Vertical said can be enabled by its Honeywell flight control system.
The manufacturer said it has already completed bench testing of the new propulsion system, which it believes will enable “best in class” performance. The hybrid-electric model would complement the less robust VX4, which Vertical aims to certify with the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) by 2028. By the end of the decade, it is targeting 150 customer deliveries and a production rate of 200 aircraft per year. It claims to have about 1,500 VX4 preorders, including American Airlines’ 2021 commitment for as many as 250 aircraft.
With that large of an order book—one of the largest among eVTOL developers, per SMG Consulting—the focus on a new aircraft might seem strange. But diversification is not unusual for the young industry.
Beta Technologies, for example, is developing a conventional takeoff and landing design alongside its Alia eVTOL. Joby Aviation is eyeing a liquid hydrogen-powered model with significantly more range than its eVTOL air taxi. Archer Aviation recently founded a defense unit to build a hybrid-electric version of its Midnight eVTOL for defense.
Other manufacturers are going electric or hybrid-electric without the VTOL. Take, for example, Electra’s ultra short EL9, Heart Aerospace’s 30-seat ES-30, Ampaire’s record-setting Electric EEL, and the EcoPulse, a collaboration between Daher, Safran, and Airbus.
Manufacturers focused solely on eVTOL have struggled to stay in business. Vertical on Monday claimed to be the “only remaining credible European eVTOL company” following the insolvency filings of its German rivals Lilium, which shut down in February, and Volocopter, which has since been acquired by the Chinese owner of Diamond Aircraft.
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