The ePlane Company Showcases Full-Scale e200X PT-01 Electric Air Taxi Prototype

Chennai-based The ePlane Company has showcased its e200X PT-01, a full-scale electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype developed for urban air mobility. The aircraft is currently undergoing ground testing and is being prepared for its first flight.

The e200X PT-01 has a gross takeoff weight of 2.2 tonnes, a cruising speed of 160 km/h and a claimed range of up to 110 km per charge. Its compact 8 m × 11 m footprint is designed to support operations from existing rooftop and conventional helipads, reducing the need for dedicated landing infrastructure.

The aircraft uses a lift-plus-cruise propulsion system, combining dedicated vertical lift rotors with separate forward cruise propellers. It incorporates the company’s patented Synergistic Lift technology, a carbon-fibre composite airframe and a custom high-energy-density aviation battery architecture.

The e200X is being developed for three applications: passenger air taxis, air ambulances and urban cargo transportation. The passenger configuration accommodates one pilot and two passengers, while the air ambulance version is designed to carry a patient on a stretcher along with a paramedic. The cargo variant is designed for a payload capacity of 200 kg.

Founded in 2019 and incubated at IIT Madras, The ePlane Company operates an integrated eVTOL prototyping, manufacturing and testing facility at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Thaiyur, Chennai. The company is backed by investors including Speciale Invest, Antares Ventures and Naval Ravikant.

The company has received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and its e200X aircraft has been accepted into the DGCA’s type-certification process. The aircraft remains under development and has not yet received certification for commercial operations.

Watch the e200X PT-01 walkaround featuring founder Prof. Satya Chakravarthy: YouTube Video

Also read: The ePlane company raises $14M to advance eVTOL development