TCab Tech E20 (subscale prototype)

E20 (subscale 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 50% sub-scale eVTOL prototype aircraft
The E20 50% sub-scale eVTOL prototype aircraft was scaled down from the full size production aircraft. The E20 50% sub-scale prototype has six propellers, six electric motors and powered by batteries. The maximum payload weight of the aircraft was approximately 102 kg (225 lb). The high main wing is a gullwing design and is 6 meters (19.7 ft) wide. The 50% sub-scale prototype was completed by December 2021. The company has made many successful test flights with the 50% sub-scale prototype with all phases of flight from vertical takeoff, to transition flights to forward cruising flight.

The company has made both 25% and 50% sub-scale flying prototype E20 remote controlled eVTOL prototype aircraft. The company completed their 25% sub-scale prototype in August 2021 which has made hundreds of test flights.

Future developments
The first market the company foresees to be successful with their E20 eVTOL aircraft will be in the tourism industry. TCab Tech expects its production aircraft to cost in the seven million yuan or approximately $960,900.00 USD. After that, TCab Tech expects their aircraft will be used in the on-demand urban air taxi industry.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: 50% sub-scale eVTOL prototype aircraft
• Piloting: Remote
• Capacity: No people.
• Maximum payload weight: ~102 kg (~225 lb)
• Propellers: 6 propellers
• Electric motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Window: Canopy over cockpit
• Wing: 1 high main gullwing
• Wing span: 6 m (19.7 ft) wingspan
• Tail: 1 convention tail
• Landing gear: 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. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• TCab Tech E20 (concept design)
• TCab Tech E20 (technology demonstrator)
• TCab Tech E20 (prototype)

Company Insights:

• Airframer
• Crunchbase
• Tracxn

Resources:

• TCab Tech website
• TCab Tech Twitter
• TCab Tech YouTube Channel
• Article: Affordable air taxi travel expected to enter commercial use in China around 2024, Global Times, Sept. 6, 2021
• Article: Chinese eVTOL startup TCab Tech revealed fundraising details and design concept, eFlight Journal, Sept. 6, 2021
• Article: China's Rising eVTOL Industry, Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2021
• Article: An Interview with TCab Tech, Asian Sky Media, Mar. 8, 2022
• Video: TCab Tech successfully completed transition flights with the E20 50% subscale demonstrator, TCab Tech, Apr. 14, 2022
• Article: China's TCab E20 eVTOL prototype is making regular transition flights, New Atlas, May 15, 2022