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TCab Tech E20 (prototype)

Tcab Tech E20 passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft

 

E20 (prototype)
TCab Tech
Shanghai, China
www.tcabtech.com

TCab Tech was founded in May 2021 in Shanghai, China by Yon Huang Ng, CEO and other engineers. The company's goal is to make reliable and zero emission electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) aerial ride-sharing for the general public. The meaning of TCab translates to "time taxi" which is the mission of the company to offer affordable and time-efficient air transportation to the general public. (Image credits: TCab Tech)

The company foresees using Artificial Intelligence to help their aircraft navigate through complex urban air space to ensure safety for all urban air travelers. The E20 passenger aircraft will be built in China and manufactured by the Shanghai TCab Technology Co., Ltd. After two rounds of funding earlier in 2021, the company raised nearly $10 million USD. Reported in February 2023, the company has had another funding round, raising 100 million yuan (approximately $14.8 million USD).

E20 artist conception

E20 artist conception

E20 long-range passenger eVTOL full scale prototype aircraft
The E20 is a long-range passenger eVTOL full scale prototype aircraft made specifically for advanced air mobility (AAM) and holds one pilot and carries four passengers. The aircraft has a futuristic design and has many safety features built into the aircraft. The E20 has no single point of failure in the flight control system and in the propulsion system. The main high wing allows passengers to enter and exit the aircraft with ease and safety and won't hit their heads on the propellers. In case of an all propeller failure during flight, the aircraft can glide and land on a road or runway like an airplane.

The aircraft has a cruise speed of 260 km/h (162 mph) and has maximum speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). The range of the aircraft is 200 km (125 miles) and has a maximum payload of 450 kg (992 lb). The cruise altitude is in the range of 300–600 m (984–1,969 ft). For propulsion, the aircraft uses four tilt-propellers for both vertical and forward flight and has two double stacked rotors for vertical take off and landing (VTOL) flight only. There are six electric motors on for the propellers powered by battery packs. The company expects as batteries improve over the years, the aircraft will be capable of being fully charged in a half hour.

The aircraft is made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength low weight ratio. Using this type of material is important for not only being to create the shape of the aircraft needed but to keep the weight low which increases the range of the aircraft. The windows are larger than conventional aircraft providing the passengers with a better views. The aircraft has one high wing and has a rear conventional tail. The aircraft has tricycle fixed wheeled landing gear.

Scale model of a TCab Tech's vertiport on top of a building

Scale model of a TCab Tech's vertiport on top of a building

2021
As of September 2021, according to one website, the population in China has reached 1.398 billion people and the company is counting on customers in China to use their aircraft in an effort to spend less time traveling to work and to gain more free personal time. TCab Tech and the entire aviation industry is aware that as low altitude restrictions become more lifted in China, the market for air taxi service should begin to boom.

TCab Tech announced on Monday, September 6, 2021 they had started flight testing, presumably with a sub-scale technology demonstrator as detailed by the company later in the year. Later in autumn, they announced that they had received 10 million dollars (USD) in investments in their seed funding phases. In December of the same year the company revealed a full-scale mock-up of the E20 along with planned vertiport infrastructure. Also in 2021, the company predicted their first commercial flight for the E20 will take place sometime in 2024.

2023
The company received a special flight permit and aircraft registration certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in June 2023. After just four months of building the aircraft, the company successfully hovered, made the transition from vertical to forward flight and cruise flight. This took place at the Dongyang Hengdian General Airport in Zhejiang Province in China. The company has stated they've received more than 200 provisional orders for the E20 passenger eVTOL aircraft.  

Tourist flights, air taxi service and cost of the aircraft
The first market the company foresees to be successful with their E20 eVTOL aircraft will be in the tourism industry. After that, TCab Tech expects their aircraft will be used in the on-demand air taxi industry for advanced air mobility (AAM). TCab Tech expects its production aircraft to cost in the seven million yuan or approximately $960,900.00 USD.

TCab raises $20 million (USD) revealed in 2024
Shanghai-based TCab Tech announced on March 25, 2024 that it had raised an additional $20 million USD in its Series A financing. The investment came from a strategic investment fund that plans to introduce the air-taxi application in the Middle East. TCab completed initial testing of its full-scale aircraft in October 2023, after conducting hover and transition flights at Dongyang Hengdian General Airport in Zhejiang Province. In 2021, the company predicted their first commercial flight for the E20 will take place sometime in 2024.

Aircraft sales projection, future models and more
According to Chinese media reports, TCab Tech intends to commence aircraft sales in 2026, with plans to launch international sales by 2027 or 2028. Following large-scale commercialization and certification in late 2026, early trial routes are expected in cities like Shanghai and others in the Pearl River and Yangtze River Deltas, with widespread air taxi operations anticipated by 2035.

A winner of the 2024 “Shanghai Design 100+” Award, TCab Tech’s long-term plans include developing the E20 eVTOL into a full product line, expanding to 6-seater, 8-seater, 10-seater and 20-seater models for a range of commercial applications. TCab Tech has completed four rounds of financing and has received over 200 preorders.

On Sept. 7, 2024 at the 3rd Low-Altitude Economic Development Conference in Wuhu City, Anhui Province, TCab signed strategic cooperative agreements with Anhui General Aviation Holding Group Co., Ltd., Wanjiang Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., and the Wuhu Branch of Agricultural Bank of China Co., Ltd.

E20 prototype on tarmac

E20 prototype on tarmac

E20 prototype flying, rear view

E20 prototype flying, rear view

E20 prototype flying, rear view

E20 prototype flying, rear view

Specifications:

  • Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL advanced air mobility (AAM) full scale prototype aircraft
  • Piloting: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 4 passengers
  • Cruise speed: 260 km/h (162 mph)
  • Maximum speed: 320 km/h (199 mph)
  • Range: 200 km (125 miles)
  • Cruise altitude range: 300–600 m (984–1,969 ft)
  • Maximum payload: 450 kg (992 lb)
  • Propellers: 6 propellers (4 tilt-propellers, 2 double stacked VTOL propellers)
  • Electric Motors: 6 electric motors
  • Power source: Batteries
  • Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
  • Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left, right and top visibility, for spectacular views
  • Wing: 1 main high seagull wing
  • Tail: Conventional fuselage mounted tail
  • Landing gear: Tricycle fixed wheeled landing gear
  • Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft.

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