Zeva Z2

Z2
Zeva
Tacoma, Washington, USA
www.zevaaero.com

Based in Tacoma, Washington (USA), Zeva began creating an all electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) passenger aircraft concept design in 2017. The company first designed and created a sub-scale prototype called Zero (Zero-emissions Electric Vertical Aircraft) with the ultimate goal to create a full sized production aircraft to provide alternative options to people for their daily commute. Zeva has enlisted engineers from around the world to help build their eVTOL aircraft. As of 2018, Zeva is looking for $1.5 million USD in funding.

In July 2022, the company announced they redesigned their aircraft and named it the Z2. The company has stated they have made critical improvements to the proprietary underlying technology, it's also faster than the Zero model, has more stable landing gear and is designed to be fully autonomous in the future.

The Z2 is a one passenger eVTOL aircraft that transitions from hover mode, to forward flight mode and cruises comfortably at 160 mph (258 km/h). The aircraft can be manually flown, flown by remote control and in the future, an autonomous option will be available. The aircraft has four propellers, for electric motors and is a tailsitter aircraft. The range of the aircraft is 50 miles (80 km) and its maximum payload weight is 220 lb (100 kg). The power source for the aircraft is batteries.

The company says that Z2 blends the best features of a multicopter with a streamlined wing for improved range and efficiency. The eVTOL aircraft has the look like a flying saucer. As the aircraft is a tailsitter, it takes off in a vertical position and when it transitions to forward flight, the entire aircraft rotates to a horizontal position. Therefore, the pilot (or passenger, when the aircraft is piloted remotely or autonomously) is in a standing position on takeoff and then when the aircraft transitions to forward flight, the passenger is in the prone position.

The company foresees their aircraft used for personal air travel, first responder missions, search and rescue, police and air cargo. The company's goal is to sell 500 vehicles by 2025 and achieve a total revenue of $125 million (USD) dollars (or $250,000.00 USD each).

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot (Manually, remotely and autonomously piloted)
• Capacity: 160 mph (258 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 160 mph
• Range: 50 miles (80 km)
• Flight time: Unknown
• Cruise altitude: Unknown
• Maximum payload: 220 lb (100 kg)
• Propellers: 4 propellers
• Electric motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite (the disc shaped airframe provides lift)
• Window: Canopy over cockpit
• Wings: X-wing configuration with the propellers located at the end of each wing
• Landing gear: Tailsitter landing gear

ompany Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Zeva website
• Zeva Facebook
• Zeva Twitter
• Zeva YouTube Channel
• Zeva Instagram
• Zeva Zero LinkedIn
• Zeva Zero Go Fund Me
• Article: AHS Supports GoFly!, Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2017 
• Article: Team of Tacoma ‘engineers, designers and dreamers’ wants to build you a personal flying saucer, The News Tribune, Aug. 21, 2018
• Video: Tacoma company wants to make personal flying saucer, K5 News, Aug. 27, 2018
• Article: Team Zeva takes on a mission targeting the $2M GoFly Prize … with a flying saucer!, Geek Wire, Jan. 29, 2019
• Article: Zeva builds flying saucer to take aim at GoFly Prize, Cosmic Log, Jan. 29, 2019
• Article: Forget Jet Packs or Flying Cars! Design a Personal Flying Device!, ANSYA Blog, Mar. 1, 2019
• Article: Oshkosh e-AirVenture, Vertiflite, Sep/Oct 2019
• Article: Flying Solo: GoFly Advances Single-Passenger Air Mobility Solutions, Vertiflite, May/June 2019
• Article: GoFly Inspires Innovation, Vertiflite, May/June 2020
• Article: GoFly Teams Prepare to Fly Again, Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2020
• Video: Introducing the next generation of ZEVA eVTOL aircraft, Zeva Aero, July 28, 2022