MuYu Sky EV4 (prototype)

(Photo credit: MuYu Sky)

EV4 (prototype)
MuYu Sky
Shanghai, China
www.muyusky.com

The information provided here is as accurate as possible; however, eVTOL information from China is sometimes sparse, incomplete or conflicting. China is promoting what they call the "low-altitude economy" — a new push for general aviation — which includes both crewed and uncrewed passenger and air cargo eVTOL aircraft.

Founded in 2018, MuYu Sky is in the business of designing and manufacturing air cargo and passenger hydrogen-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and conventionally powered aircraft. The company is based in Shanghai, China. The company's website shows the business dates back to 2014 when we it might have been called the Muyu Aero Technology Company, in addition to the company possibly being called EFC.

The company has announced they are focusing on hydrogen fuel cell powered eVTOL aircraft using batteries for takeoff and landing, using fuel cells for cruising and mid-flight battery recharging. This power system improves the range of the aircraft, a higher payload, higher reliability of the aircraft and lower operational costs. The company's plans to begin production of its air cargo eVTOL aircraft first and then transition to passenger eVTOL aircraft.

EV4 passenger hydrogen fuel cell eVTOL subscale prototype aircraft
The EV4 is a passenger hydrogen fuel cell eVTOL subscale prototype aircraft. The aircraft is planned to be piloted and has room for one passenger. The production aircraft have a redesigned fuselage and look from the prototype due to space requirements for five passengers, their luggage, avionics and the power source. The production aircraft is expected to be used for travel in dense urban cities.

The prototype aircraft has a total of 12 propellers and 12 electric motors. It is unknown if the prototype uses only batteries or a combination of batteries and hydrogen fuel cells for its power source. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The prototype has one high main wing, 1 inverted V-tail and has fixed skid landing gear.

The company intends to have airworthiness certificates for the air cargo eVTOL aircraft in 2027 or 2028.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft.
• Piloting: 1 pilot. The production aircraft will have a pilot.
• Capacity: 1 passenger. The production aircraft will carry 3 passengers.
• Cruise speed (production aircraft): 180 km/h (112 mph)
• Maximum speed (production aircraft): 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Range (production aircraft): 300 km (186 m)
• Empty weight (production aircraft): 900 kg (1,985 lb)
• Maximum payload weight (production aircraft): 300 kg (661 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight (production aircraft): 1,200 kg (2,646 lb)
• Propellers: 12 propeller (4 tractor propellers, 8 VTOL-only propellers)
• Electric motors: 12 electric motors
• Power source: For the prototype, it uses battery packs only or both battery packs and hydrogen fuel cells. The production model is planned to be powered by battery packs and hydrogen fuel cells.
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
• Wings: 1 high main wing
• Tail: 1 V-tail
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Related Aircraft:

• MuYu Sky AT1300 (prototype)
• MuYu Sky AT8000 (prototype)
• MuYu Sky VJET-7 (concept design)

Resources:

• MuYu Sky website
• Article: China's Rising eVTOL Industry, Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2021
• Article: MuYu’s Logistics First eVTOL Strategy – Cargo to Passenger!, Asian Sky Group, Sept. 14, 2022
• Article: Muyu Sky soars ahead with heavy-lift hybrid eVTOL drones, KrAsia, Feb. 23, 2025