https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/evtols-urban-mobility/ups-to-purchase-150-evtols/
UPS To Purchase 150 eVTOLs
Kate O'Connor April 8, 20217
Image: UPS
UPS and its UPS Flight Forward subsidiary have announced plans to purchase
up to 150 Beta Technologies Alia-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo aircraft. The first ten aircraft, which will be used to
support the company’s small and mid-size markets, are scheduled to begin arriving in 2024. UPS says it has also reserved Beta’s recharging station
and intends to land the eVTOLs on-property at its facilities.
“This is all about innovation with a focus on returns for our business, our customers, and the environment,” said UPS chief information and engineering officer Juan Perez. “These new aircraft will create operational efficiencies
in our business, open possibilities for new services, and serve as a
foundation for future solutions to reduce the emissions profile of our air
and ground operation.”
Beta’s Alia-250 prototype completed its first interstate flight last month, traveling from the company’s test facility in Plattsburgh, New York, to its headquarters in Burlington, Vermont. The Alia-250 is expected to have a
cruise speed of up to 170 MPH, 250-mile range, cargo capacity of 1,400
pounds and recharge time of 50 minutes. The single-pilot eVTOL was designed
to eventually operate autonomously “as technologies and regulations are established.”
7 COMMENTS
William Kalichman April 8, 2021 at 1:28 pm
I still can’t picture this idea ‘flying’ but I do have a question…
What are all these VTOL’s trying to be electric? Is it related to the fact
most toy and hobby drones are battery operated?
What not turbine?
I don’t see the wisdom in combining two new unproven technologies at once as there are too many unproven safety and performance variables.
For instance, unless there is a pressing medical need I won’t make two major medical changes on a patient at one time. If I did and there was a untoward outcome it would be hard to determine which change caused the problem.
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Cameron Garner April 8, 2021 at 3:51 pm
Distributed propulsion is easy with electric, but complex with turbines.
That’s why electric VTOLs look very different to helicopters.
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Bob Gatlin-Martin April 9, 2021 at 6:27 am
The distributed propulsion model also has the potential for a *massive* reduction in moving parts count compared to the engine/rotor/transmission of
a traditional helicopter. If you go with fixed pitch rotors, as it looks
like this has, you could (in theory) have a system where moving parts =
number of rotors. Goodby gearboxes, swashplates, driveshafts, etc.
If they could make a business case for electric, why not? If you can get
your charge time down to an acceptable level (and it seems they have), then even without “green” subsidies or warm fuzzy feelings, you might have a
good, profitable system. Even if there’s an absolute efficiency penalty
because of the weight of the batteries and not being able to burn off fuel,
it could work. Last I checked electricity is a fair bit cheaper per unit of energy and it’s available from a multitude of sources. There may also be significant maintenance cost savings—just as owners of electric cars have
noted a significant reduction in various mainenance costs (oil changes,
brake pads, various engine wear items, etc.) there may be corresponding cost reductions for an aircraft.
If you really felt like it you could probably add a turbine APU or something and go for a hybrid system—your power demand for vertical flight is a lot higher than for cruise, but it only lasts a short time, which is
applications where hybrids work on ground vehicles too. But for the shorter flights they envision for this it might be impractical.
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Joe Jetstar April 8, 2021 at 6:59 pm
William, with all due respect, this is 2021. The tech is proven and getting better every day. It’s called Tesla, Nio, Grabat and several others. It may
not be perfect for aviation yet but after all, the GM EV1 was not the best
car with a 70 mile range. Believe it or not, electricity WILL power these things. All the regular nay-sayers here that don’t believe the
infrastructure will support charging these batteries without using more
fossil fuels than the airplane would use if it was conventionally powered
are just dead wrong and are stuck in the 70’s. It will come.
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James Wills April 9, 2021 at 5:52 am
There are serious problems in replacing fuel sources with the energy
densities of avgas/Jet-A. At a 15-1 fuel/air ratio, using these fuels means that only 1/16 of the reactant weight has to be carried by the aircraft;
15/16 is pulled from local air, with the exhaust gases dumped right back in
the same place. In vehicles like airplanes, where weight is THE limiting parameter, that is not a trivial problem, and blithely asserting that one is
a “naysayer” for pointing it out is not helpful.
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Jason Summer April 8, 2021 at 8:58 pm
Neither of these are new or unproven technologies. We have been flying
electric drones for years, and vtol is decades old.
The other point is that the aviation industry already contributes too much
to pollution. UPS is doing the responsible thing and reducing emissions, not adding to them with inferior technology
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James Wills April 9, 2021 at 6:16 am
Things are rarely simple as they seem. Flying a drone that carries approximately zero payload at Flight Level 000 is a far cry from flying three-hundred 70-kg passengers (more like 100kg) at speeds of 550 mph at FL 410. As for pollution, the major aviation “pollutant” – CO2 – makes up about 0.04% of the atmosphere – four parts in ten-thousand. Take a sheet of typing paper and use a pencil to make a dot somewhere on it. That’s 4 parts in
10,000. And CO2 is not a pollutant; it is critically necessary for life on
this planet. According to a recent NASA report, elevations in CO2 are likely responsible for a significant increase in plant life across the planet –
plant life, by the way, that produces approximate 100% of the oxygen animals like, say, humans require to exist.
I was around when the Clean Air and Water Act was passed into law. Since
that time the air over the US has become remarkably clear; the famed Los Angeles haze is nearly gone; flying in the east during summer months is a breeze now. The law did what it was supposed to do. If people are worried
about “the planet,” they need to attack the REAL polluters: China and India. -----------------------------------------------------
https://www.beta.team/aircraft/
ALIA-250c
ALIA-250 is the result of 3 years of precise design and development. ALIA
takes inspiration from the Arctic tern. Terns migrate further than any other bird, visiting every ocean and the vicinity of every continent on earth.
ALIA began as a simple sketch, designed on basic principles of engineering
to fly in the most efficient manner possible. Its ability to take off and
land vertically and then transition to long-range flight is a defining characteristic.
Cargo
Propulsion Distributed, Direct-Drive Electric
Type EVA, Lift + Cruise
MTOW 6,000 lbs
Wingspan 50 ft
Range 250 NM
Recharge Time 50 minutes
Cargo Volume 200 Ft ^3
ELECTRIC PROPULSION - BATTERIES
Air cooled and environmentally sealed, battery blocks provide the base of
our EPU system.
ELECTRIC PROPULSION - INVERTERS
Dual inverters do the job of harnessing the freshly charged battery and converting for the motors. With safety as priority, our inverters are
designed with 3 lines of communication with the system and built with redundancy in case of failure.
ELECTRIC PROPULSION - MOTORS
Our unique air-cooled motors are designed to provide high torque density and redundancy while maximizing efficiency. Designed and manufactured in-house
with high precision and process control, the lift and pusher motors are the cornerstone of our ability to fly long distances economically and in a environmentally friendly way.
-------------------------------------------
https://www.businessinsider.com/ups-plans-purchase-of-beta-technologies-evtols-to-deliver-packages-2021-4
UPS reveals plan to buy hundreds of helicopter-like electric aircraft to
buzz around cities delivering packages — take a look
Thomas Pallini Apr 7, 2021, 6:31 AM
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS
UPS is planning to buy electric takeoff and land aircraft, or eVTOLs, to transport packages.
Beta Technologies' Alia-250C is the shipping giant's eVTOL of choice, with options for 150 aircraft.
The electric aircraft can carry 1,400 pounds of payload and travel up to 250 miles emission-free.
See more stories on Insider's business page.
UPS is going electric — in the air.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS
The shipping giant plans to add electric vertical take-off and land
aircraft, or eVTOLs, to its fleet of delivery vehicles and has selected Beta Technologies' Alia-250c as the launch aircraft.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS
Read More: UPS is splashing out for 10 futuristic electric aircraft that
could revolutionize package delivery. Here's how the investment could give
the company a competitive leg up.
The eVTOLs will help UPS reach smaller and medium-sized markets by air but avoid airports altogether. Much like helicopters, the aircraft don't require
a runway and can land directly at UPS facilities to minimize transit times
and get packages to their destinations sooner.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS
"These new aircraft will create operational efficiencies in our business,
open possibilities for new services, and serve as a foundation for future solutions to reduce the emissions profile of our air and ground operation," Juan Perez, UPS' chief information and engineering officer, said in a statement.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS
The Alia-250c boasts a 250-mile range, enough to fly between New York and Washington or Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and a top speed of 170 miles per
hour all while carrying loads of up to 1,400 pounds.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies
Source: Beta Technologies
Four fixed propellers provide vertical lift while one propeller pushes the aircraft forward.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies
One sector that UPS says would benefit from the reduced delivery times is healthcare providers. Some medicines, like vaccines, have a short shelf-life and need to get to their destinations quicker than other merchandise.
UPS
UPS workers handling packages. UPS
The eVTOLs can be recharged in under an hour, allowing for quick turnaround times in between flights while cargo is loaded and unload.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies
Once the first life cycle of the aircraft's batteries is used up, they can
be fitted to charging stations to charge aircraft and UPS' fleet of electric vehicles.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies
Electric aircraft also have the benefit of being quiet and emission-free
while in flight.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS
UPS already achieved the required certification to fly the eVTOLs when the Federal Aviation Administration gave UPS Flight Forward "certification to operate a drone airline."
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies
The FAA allows UPS to fly payloads of up to 7,500 pounds, well beyond the ALIA-250c's carrying capability of 1,400 pounds.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies
The Alia-250c aircraft will be piloted but may be operated autonomously in
the future. UPS also has authorization for autonomous flights.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft simulator. Beta Technologies
UPS' eVTOL fleet also won't look like its all-brown delivery trucks.
UPS truck
AP
Renderings show the aircraft painted in the same colors as UPS Airlines, a mostly white exterior with the company's signature brown towards the rear fuselage with a yellow stripe.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS
Here it is on a UPS Airlines Boeing 747-8F.
UPS Airlines Boeing 747-8F
A UPS Airlines Boeing 747-8F aircraft. Thiago B Trevisan / Shutterstock.com UPS' commitment to eVTOLs follows a $1 billion order from United Airlines of similar aircraft from Archer.
Archer Aviation electric aircraft VTOL
Archer Aviation
Read More: United just ordered $1 billion worth of eVTOLs from a startup
that aims to launch intra-city passenger flights in 2024
United plans to use the aircraft to shuttle passengers to and from major airports in congested cities like Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation electric aircraft VTOL
Archer Aviation
EVTOL and urban air mobility companies are currently riding a wave of new funding from special-purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs.
Archer Aviation electric aircraft VTOL
Archer Aviation
Joby Aviation is going public through a merger with a SPAC backed by Reid Hoffman in a deal valuing the company at $6.6 billion.
Joby Aviation eVTOL
Joby Aviation
Read More: EVTOL startup Joby Aviation is going public with a $6.6 billion valuation and plans to start passenger flights in 2024 — here's what we know about the company
Archer similarly announced plans to go public through a SPAC merger with
Atlas Crest Investment Corp. in a $1.1 billion deal.
Archer Aviation electric aircraft VTOL
Archer Aviation
Blade, the helicopter company, is also going public via a SPAC with a KSL Capital Partners-backed company. The deal values blade at $825 million.
Zero G Experience Boeing 727
A Blade Bell 407 helicopter. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider
Read More: Helicopter taxi company Blade to go public via SPAC at near $1 billion valuation
And Beta Technologies might just be next, especially with a new
heavy-hitting partner like UPS.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies
UPS says the first 10 aircraft are slated to arrive as early as 2024.
Beta Technologies eVTOL UPS
A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS -----------------------------------------------------------
https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers/ups-takes-options-to-purchase-150-evtols-from-vermont-manufacturer-beta/143207.article
UPS takes options to purchase 150 eVTOLs from Vermont manufacturer Beta
By Jon Hemmerdinger7 April 2021
Save article
Express package delivery company UPS has acquired options to buy up to 150 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Vermont-based developer Beta Technologies, with deliveries planned to start in 2024.
The deal advances UPS’s efforts to integrate drone operations into its
massive air cargo network, building on projects already underway through its drone-operating division, UPS Flight Forward.
The agreement also marks a major win for Beta, which is developing an all-electric aircraft called the ALIA-250.
Beta ALIA-250 in UPS colours
Source: UPS
A rendering of Beta’s ALIA-250 eVTOL in UPS colours
The aircraft UPS intends to acquire will have 1,400lb (635kg) of cargo
payload capacity, 217nm (402km) range and cruising speed of 148kt (274km/h), says UPS.
“These new aircraft will create operational efficiencies in our business,
open possibilities for new services and serve as a foundation for future solutions to reduce the emissions profile of our air and ground operation,” says UPS chief information and engineering officer Juan Perez.
Beta’s aircraft has four fixed, vertically-positioned props for lift and one pusher prop at its tail. The eVTOL’s batteries will be capable of being
charged in 1h or less, UPS says.
The Atlanta-based shipping giant intends to use the aircraft “to augment its air service for select small and mid-size markets”. The eVTOLs will operate from and between UPS facilities, giving the company a faster, less-expensive means of shipping packages to smaller markets, UPS says.
“We can turn relatively small spaces at existing UPS facilities into a micro air feeder network without the noise or operating emissions of traditional aircraft,” says Beta founder and chief executive Kyle Clark.
Beta is marketing its ALIA-250 in both a passenger configuration with six
seats and a cargo configuration with 5.7cb m (200cb ft) of available cargo space.
The aircraft has distributed “direct-drive electric” propulsion system with air-cooled motors.
It is designed to land on what Beta calls its “multi-featured charging pad”, which is composed of a landing deck atop a structure that houses a control centre and rest area.
recharge_pad_lights (1)
Source: UPS
Beta’s charging pad for its ALIA eVTOL
In March, Beta flew its aircraft from Plattsburgh, New York to its
headquarters in the Burlington area of Vermont, a distance of about 17nm.
Beta recently became a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the group said in March.
Prior to founding Beta, CEO Clark was director of engineering at energy
storage company Dynapower. He holds an applied math degree from Harvard University.
In 2019, the US Federal Aviation Administration granted UPS Flight Forward a Part 135 operating certificate, which allows the company to conduct beyond-line-of-sight, revenue-generating package delivery flights using
drones, according to the agency. UPS Flight Forward has operated a
quadcopter drone called M2, which has 5lb payload and is manufactured by California-based Matternet.
UPS is now “operating daily revenue-generating flights with drones”, says
the company.
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