Hitachi Energy and Eve Join Forces to Power Electric Air Taxis
Hitachi Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Eve Air Mobility (NYSE: EVEX) to jointly develop the electrical infrastructure required to support large-scale urban air mobility, as the emerging electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry moves toward commercialization.
The collaboration will focus on enabling vertiport operations by addressing key infrastructure challenges, including grid connectivity, power availability, and high-power charging systems for electric aircraft. Hitachi Energy will contribute its Grid-eMotion charging platform and expertise in grid integration and power electronics, while Eve will provide its eVTOL aircraft and urban air mobility ecosystem expertise.
The companies also plan to evaluate the reuse of retired aircraft batteries as stationary energy storage systems, a move aimed at improving the sustainability and efficiency of urban air mobility infrastructure. The agreement further includes joint business planning and customer engagement efforts intended to accelerate deployment of global eVTOL charging networks.
The partnership comes as the urban air mobility sector works to overcome one of its biggest hurdles: ensuring that vertiports can reliably support frequent, high-power charging while integrating new electricity demand into existing grids.
Eve Air Mobility, which is backed by Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer, expects to certify its electric aircraft and begin commercial operations in 2028. The company says it has accumulated letters of intent for roughly 2,700 eVTOL aircraft, reflecting growing interest from airlines, helicopter operators and mobility providers.
The agreement also aligns with Hitachi Energy's broader investment strategy. The company has committed more than $9 billion to expand research and development, manufacturing capacity, engineering resources and strategic partnerships aimed at supporting electrification and grid modernization worldwide.
By combining aviation technology with power infrastructure expertise, the companies aim to establish a scalable foundation for the future deployment of electric urban air mobility services.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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