Widerøe Zero is partnering with Embraer’s Eve Urban Air Mobility to perform an eVTOL concept of operations study in Scandinavia. (Eve)
Widerøe Zero, the air mobility business incubator division of the Norwegian airline, has committed to an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle concept of operations study in Scandinavia, under a new partnership with Embraer subsidiary Eve Urban Air Mobility Inc.
According to a Nov. 10 press release, the two companies will use the zero-emission eVTOL being developed by Eve to develop an eVTOL concept of operations in Scandinavia. The partnership will extend the E-Jets E2 family launch customer’s relationship with Embraer, several years after it became the first airline to start operating the E-190-E2 in April 2018, in Bergen, Norway.
“Widerøe Zero is excited to work with Eve on the eVTOL concept. Although initially designed for Urban Air Mobility, we expect these highly flexible vehicles to be interesting in a variety of applications also in rural areas; from cargo to passenger transportation. Our partnership with Eve is part of our plan to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation in Norway. We are looking forward to the expanded partnership, unlocking new opportunities to improve regional connectivity,” Andreas Kollbye Aks, CEO of Widerøe Zero said in a statement.
The airline describes Widerøe Zero as a “consultancy-cum-incubator” that is tasked with helping to meet a target of operating a zero-emissions aircraft by 2026. As part of the partnership with Eve, Widerøe Zero will also contribute to a market readiness exercise in the region as well.
“In order to contribute to the world target to eliminate greenhouse gas emission by 2050, the aerospace industry depends on disruptive innovation. With Urban Air Mobility, we have a unique opportunity to design a new and optimized mobility ecosystem: infrastructure, vehicle, operations and air traffic management systems” André Stein, president and CEO of Eve said in a statement. “We are thrilled to work together with Widerøe Zero to develop UAM solutions in Scandinavia, with an entirely new, zero-emission, experience to travelers.”
The partnership is the latest to focus on regional evaluations for Eve after receiving a signed letter of intent to purchase 100 of their eVTOL aircraft from a large Brazilian private jet operator, and Widerøe’s latest advancement toward lowering their CO2 emissions. Widerøe is one of several airlines that has submitted a letter of intent to purchase the 19-seater all-electric ES-19 regional turboprop being developed by Swedish aircraft maker Heart Aerospace.
Neither company provided a timeline to when they intend to begin the eVTOL vehicle concept of operation study.