eVTOL stands for electric vertical take-off and landing: an aircraft that lifts off like a helicopter but is powered entirely (or mostly) by electric motors instead of a combustion engine. The category sits at the heart of what regulators call advanced air mobility (AAM) — the vision of quiet, low-emission aircraft carrying passengers and cargo over congested cities.
How eVTOLs Differ from Helicopters
A conventional helicopter relies on one large rotor and a complex mechanical drivetrain. eVTOLs instead use distributed electric propulsion: many small motors and rotors spread across the airframe. The result is far lower noise, mechanical simplicity, redundancy if a motor fails, and zero operational emissions on battery power.
The Main Design Families
Most designs fall into three families, which we use to organise our aircraft database: multicopters (simple, short-range, helicopter-style), lift + cruise designs (separate rotors for hover and a wing for efficient forward flight), and vectored thrust aircraft (tilting rotors that do both jobs, offering the highest speed and range).
When Will You Fly in One?
The first commercial passenger services have already begun in limited forms, and certification programmes at the FAA, EASA and CAAC will determine how quickly air taxis scale to daily urban use. Explore each aircraft’s certification status in our database — and follow our news section for every milestone.