Yixiang UAV Team eVTOL (concept design)

(Image credit: Yixiang UAV Team)

eVTOL (concept design)
Yixiang UAV Team
Chongqing Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology
Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
www.en.hit.edu.cn

Please remember, it is known that information originating from China is sometimes sparse, incomplete or inaccurate. The information we provide here is what the company or team has stated and by reporters writing articles. We do know that China is very interested in making what they call the "low-altitude economy" (in the US, it's known as advanced air mobility or AAM). China's low-altitude economy includes both crewed and uncrewed passenger and air cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft.

On January 27, 2025, the Yixiang UAV Team revealed its design for a crewed passenger hydrogen fuel cell powered electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) concept design aircraft. The Yixiang UAV Team is part of the Chongqing Research Institute at the Harbin Institute of Technology. The Harbin Institute of Technology is located in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

eVTOL crewed passenger hydrogen fuel cell electric vertical and takeoff concept design aircraft
The eVTOL vehicle created by the team is a piloted passenger hydrogen fuel cell powered electric vertical takeoff and landing concept design aircraft. The developed eVTOL is flown by one pilot, holds three passengers and their luggage. The aircraft's windows have been engineered to be slightly larger than standard jetliner aircraft passenger windows. One of the major goals of the team was to design a long-range eVTOL aircraft providing to the consumer a practical yet economic alternative to today's commercial airline flights.

While the estimated cruise speed is unknown, the range of the aircraft is intended to be greater than 1,000 km (621 miles). The aircraft has six tilt-propellers, six electric motors and is powered by high-energy-density hydrogen fuel cells. The expected empty weight of the aircraft is 1,700 kg (3,748 lb), has a foreseen maximum payload weight of 400 kg (882 lb) and has a calculated maximum takeoff weight of 2,100 kg (4,630 lb). The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has one small high canard wing, one high main wing and has a V-tail.

The hydrogen fuel-cell power system is being developed by Chongqing’s Hydrogen Power and Low-Carbon Energy Research Center at the Harbin Institute of Technology.

Other team designed UAV aircraft
The team has also designed and manufactured the Qingou 30B UAV eVTOL drone that was debuted at the 2023 Zhuhai Airshow in Zhuhai, China. The small UAV aircraft has been reported to be used for forest fire patrol duty and inspection duty. The drone has an endurance record of nine hours of flight time and is currently in mass production. It was also reported the team has made what they call the Yuxiang No. 2, a hydrogen-powered hexacopter.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger hydrogen fueled eVTOL concept design aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers and their luggage
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Range: >1,000 km (>621 miles)
• Empty weight: 1,700 kg (3,748 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 400 kg (882 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 2,100 kg (4,630 lb)
• Propellers: 6 propellers
• Electric motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: High-energy-density hydrogen fuel cells
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Standard commercial airliner windows
• Wings: 1 high canard wing, 1 main high wing (on the top center of the fuselage)
• 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.

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Tracxn
• Wikipedia

Resources:

• Harbin Institute of Technology website
• Article: The First Solar and Hydrogen-Powered Drone in China Makes Its Maiden Flight at Mingyue Lake in Liangjiang New Area, Fuel Cells Works, Sept. 23, 2024
• Article: Hydrogen Crewed eVTOL Announced, China eVTOL News, Feb. 21, 2025