EHang Holdings Limited, a global leader in Advanced Air
Mobility, has achieved a milestone in urban air transportation by completing
the first cross-strait pilotless eVTOL flight over China’s Qiongzhou Strait.
The EH216-series electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft
traveled 22 kilometers from Nanhai Mingzhu Island in Haikou City, Hainan
Province, to Xuwen Port in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, in just 18
minutes— slashing travel time by approximately 70–80% compared to traditional
ferry services.
The flight, announced on Wednesday, marks a critical step in
validating the capabilities of autonomous eVTOL technology for overwater
operations. The EH216-series, designed for two passengers, is powered by a
high-energy solid-state battery co-developed with partner Inx Energy. The
battery’s performance during the mission, which involved navigating complex
maritime conditions, underscores its reliability in challenging environments.
EHang highlighted the achievement as a foundation for advancing low-altitude
mobility networks between Hainan and Guangdong, two provinces pivotal to
China’s broader AAM development strategy.
“This flight demonstrates the stability and adaptability of
our technology in real-world scenarios, including cross-strait transportation,
island tourism, and maritime logistics,” stated EHang in a press release. The
company emphasized that the success could accelerate inter-provincial
connectivity and support longer-range flights within the Guangdong-Hong
Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a hub for technological and economic integration.
The Qiongzhou Strait flight follows extensive testing by
EHang and its partners in diverse conditions, including high-altitude
environments, extreme temperatures, typhoons, and overwater bodies.
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