Zero Gravity ZG-ONE (production model)

ZG-ONE (production model)
Zero Gravity Aircraft Industry Co., LTD.
Hefei High-Tech Zone, Anhui, China
www.lzlair.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.

The company was founded on March 31, 2021 by Xiang Jinwu, the Dean of the School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering in Beihang University to make electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) passenger aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). The School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering is a leading academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Zero Gravity (also known as ZeroG) is based in China’s Hefei High-Tech Zone in Anhui, China. (Image credit: Zero Gravity)

Funding
The company announced in May 2022, it had secured almost 10 million yuan ($1.48 million - USD) in a round of seed funding from BlueRun Ventures, based in China. In August 2024, it was reported the company raised ¥100 million yuan ($14 million USD) in a Series A funding round by Hefei High-Tech Investment. By December 2024, the total money raised to date was reported to be more than ¥400 million yuan ($54.5 million USD).

Design principles
The company has already designed an eVTOL multicopter, eVTOL winged aircraft and tilt-wing eVTOL passenger aircraft. The company's main objectives is to provide clean, safe, fast and comfortable urban air travel. The founding team member of Zero Gravity has said, "With an initial specialization in eVTOLs, we aim to provide smarter, faster, safer and more cost-effective solutions in urban air mobility (UAM). Our goal is to bring electric aircraft to life and contribute to the air taxi industry in China and to the world."

ZG-ONE two passenger eVTOL production model multicopter aircraft
The ZG-ONE is a two passenger eVTOL production model multicopter aircraft that has been designed to be easy to fly by the passengers with its autonomous piloting. The spherically shaped futuristic fuselage and large windows provide the passengers with excellent views with flying. The interior has comfortable ergonomically designed seats and armrests. The aircraft has two doors on either side of the fuselage. These design features have been made to make flying easy and fun at the same time.

The aircraft's expected cruise speed is 75 km/h (46 mph), has an estimated range of 30 km (18 miles) and has an anticipated flight time of 25 minutes. The maximum planned takeoff weight is 650 kg (1,433 lb). The aircraft has six propellers, six electric motors and uses batteries to power the aircraft. The propeller assembly is above the fuselage on a circular web-like boom structure. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength and low weight ratio. The dimensions of the aircraft are 2.6 m (8-1/2 ft) high and is 5.9 m (>19 ft) in diameter. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear. The aircraft has multiple redundant systems and an emergency ballistic parachute in case of a power failure. The aircraft is small and can land almost anywhere in a parking lot, rooftop or grassy area.

Production model assembled and prototype test flights
It was announced in September 2023 that the ZG-ONE prototype had manufactured and completed more than one hundred successful test flights. In October 2023, the first-generation passenger electric vertical take-off and landing multicopter aircraft ZG-ONE No. 1 production model was assembled. A final assembly and signing cooperation ceremony with company officials took place in Hefei, China on October 31, 2023. At the ceremony it was also announced the company had received more than 200 orders for the aircraft. In February 2024, ZG-ONE No. 2 aircraft was assembled and successfully tested.

ZG-ONE winning design awards
From April 26-28, 2024, the 7th 2050 Conference in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, the ZG-ONE was the winner of the China Design Intelligence Award (DIA). On April 29, 2024, ZG-ONE won a 2024 iF Design Award at the iF Design Night and Awards Ceremony held at the Friedrich Palace Theater in Berlin, Germany. The iF Design Award is one of the most prestigious design awards in the world, known as the Oscars in the design industry. The iF Design Night and Awards conference was first held in Germany in 1954 and the iF label has become a reliable symbol of excellent design for consumers and the design community and is famous for its independent, rigorous and reliable award concept.

Aircraft applications and future plans
The company foresees its aircraft for daily air taxi commuting for work, tourism, emergency rescue, geological surveys, air cargo and many other types of air missions needed by a small eVTOL aircraft. The company has ambitious plans to start small patch production in 2022. The company has stated they already have obtained several purchase orders for the aircraft.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger and cargo aircraft
• Piloting: Autonomous
• Capacity: 2 passengers
• Cruise speed: 75 km/h (46 mph)
• Range: 30 km (18 miles)
• Flight time: 25 minutes
• Maximum takeoff weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb)
• Propellers: 6 propellers
• Electric Motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Noise: At 300 meters, the noise is 65 dba
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Dimensions: 2.6 m (8-1/2 ft) high X 5.9 m (>19 ft) diameter
• Cabin: Globe-type cabin
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility, for spectacular views.
• Landing gear: Fixed-skid type 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 in the sub-systems of the aircraft. In case all systems fail, the aircraft also has an emergency ballistic parachute to keep the passengers safe during an emergency landing.

Related Aircraft:

• Zero Gravity ZG-1 (prototype)
• Zero Gravity ZG-ONE (concept design)
• Zero Gravity ZG-T6 (concept design)
• Zero Gravity ZG-VC2 (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Pitchbook

Resources:

• Zero Gravity website
• Article: The first generation of zero gravity eVTOL product "ZG-ONE" was launched, Weixin QQ, May 15, 2022
• Article: eVTOL Firm Zerog Secures Nearly 10M Yuan in Seed Financing, Pandaily, May 17, 2022
• Article: BRV China-backed eVTOL start-up Zerog closes nearly RMB10 Million seed round, Fifty Shades of Sky, June 7, 2022
• Article: BRV China-backed eVTOL start-up Zerog closes nearly RMB 10 million seed round, China Travel News, June 8, 2022
• Article: ZG-ONE eVTOL By ZeroG, Jet Forums, (Date of post unknown.)
• Article: The eVTOL company "Zero Gravity Aircraft Industry" completed nearly 10 million yuan in seed round financing, and Lanchi Ventures exclusively invested, Sina Finance, May 17, 2022
• Article: Lanchi Venture Capital made an exclusive investment, and eVTOL zero-gravity aircraft, China Venture, May 17, 2022
• Article: Chuang Express | Nanjing Zero Gravity completed nearly 10 million yuan in seed round financing, Sohu, May 19, 2022
• Article: BRV China-backed eVTOL start-up Zerog closes nearly RMB10 Million seed round, Fifty Sky Shades, June 7, 2022
• Article: Another Chinese eVTOL Startup Adds Funding, Aviation Week, Aug. 28, 2023
• Article: The front page of "People's Daily" focuses on Hefei's aerospace information industry: zero-gravity aircraft "fly", Zero Gravity, Nov. 30, 2024
• Article: "Zero" moves Zhuhai, attracting everyone's attention! Zero-gravity aircraft industry eVTOL "ZG-ONE" and other new energy aircraft appeared on the same stage at the first Asian Aviation Exhibition, Zero Gravity, Nov. 29, 2023
• Article: Zero-gravity aircraft industry eVTOL "ZG-ONE" final assembly rolled off the assembly line. Multiple signings and cooperation were held at the same time., Zero Gravity, Nov. 1, 2023
• Article: Domestic trendy brands lead the future, the zero-gravity tilt-rotor eVTOL aircraft ZG-T6 debuts in the "China Brand Day" Anhui Pavilion exhibition area, Zero Gravity, May 11, 2024
• Article: After three years of struggle, Zero Gravity continues to develop new energy aircraft and promotes the new development of low-altitude economy., Zero Gravity, Apr. 2, 2024
• Article: Zero Gravity joins hands with Xiamen Guomao & Dijing | Big names talk about low-altitude economy, eVTOL aircraft ZG-ONE makes its first air show in Xiamen, Fujian, Zero Gravity, Apr. 13, 2024
• Article: For the first time in the country, multiple zero-gravity eVTOL models were exhibited at Luogang Park in Hefei, Zero Gravity, Apr. 24, 2024
• Article: New quality low-altitude cohesion and take-off | Zero Gravity was awarded the vice-president unit by Shenzhen Low-altitude Economic Industry Association, Zero Gravity, Apr. 17, 2024
• Article: 2050 Conference | eVTOL flies to 2050, foreseeing the innovative future of "low-altitude economy", Zero Gravity, Apr. 28, 2024
• Article: Zero Gravity ZG-ONE wins iF Product Design Award, Zero Gravity, Apr. 30, 2024
• Article: ZEROG Completes Nearly 100 Million RMB Round A Financing, Focusing on eVTOL Project, PanDaily, Aug. 29, 2024