Zeva Aero Z2 (concept design)

(Image credit: Zeva Aero, now Alpine Vertical)

Z2 (concept design)
Zeva Aero (now Alpine Vertical)
Tacoma, Washington, USA
www.alpine-vertical.com

Based in Tacoma, Washington (USA), Zeva Aero (now Alpine Vertical) began creating an all electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) passenger aircraft concept design in 2017 for advanced air mobility (AAM). The company's original name Zeva is an acronym for Zero-emissions Electric Vertical Aircraft. The company first designed and created a sub-scale prototype called Zero 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. According to one August 2022 article, the company has raised around $700,000.00 USD to date. The company is actively looking for additional investors to raise $15 million USD to continue research, create flying prototypes, validate technology and sell their aircraft. In May 2024, the company's name was changed from Zeva Aero to Alpine Vertical.

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.

Alpine Vertical is focused on three ideas: vertical, accessible and sustainable. The company's vision is that vertical flight will open general aviation to many more people. Alpine Vertical's aircraft are designed to be personal and affordable. The company has stated they are not building air taxis that will cost $10 million USD, their aircraft will cost less. The company's aircraft will:

• Be practical and extremely useful aircraft
• Have superior range using hybrid-electric technology
• Have dual operating modes (flown manually or by remote control)
• Be able to takeoff and land vertically and conventionally
• Use proven eVTOL technology

Z2 passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft
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)
• Cruise speed: 160 mph
• Range: 50 miles (80 km)
• Maximum payload: 220 lb (100 kg)
• Propellers: 4 propellers
• Electric motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries packs
• 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

Related Aircraft:

• Alpine Vertical Argon (concept design)
• Zeva Aero Zero (prototype)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Go Fund Me
• Pitchbook
• Start Engine
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Alpine Vertical website
• Alpine Vertical Facebook
• Alpine Vertical Twitter
• Alpine Vertical YouTube Channel
• Alpine Vertical Instagram
• Alpine Vertical LinkedIn
• 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
• Article: ZEVA Announces Grant Awarded by JCATI, Zeva Aero, Sept. 8, 2021
• Video: Introducing the next generation of ZEVA eVTOL aircraft, Zeva Aero, July 28, 2022
• Article: Zeva aims for efficiency and practicality with upgraded Z2 eVTOL UFO, New Atlas, Sept. 5, 2022
• Article: ZEVA reveals the design of its new Z2 eVTOL aircraft, Vertical Magazine, Sept. 6, 2022
• Article: Zeva Aero pivots from its flying saucer to an airplane with a vertical-takeoff twist, Geek Wire, Mar. 22, 2023