Hitachi Energy and Eve announced Friday they have entered into a formal agreement to jointly develop the power and charging infrastructure required for Eve’s electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle — commonly referred to as a “flying car.”
The memorandum of understanding calls for Eve and Hitachi’s energy division — part of the larger Japanese conglomerate Hitachi — to collaborate on building the charging systems the aircraft will need to operate.
This agreement marks the first time Eve, which is controlled by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, has signed a deal specifically focused on charging infrastructure for its aircraft.
Speaking to reporters at the event where the deal was announced, Luiz Mauad, Eve’s vice president of customer services, stressed the urgency of getting the power infrastructure right from the start. “The power has to be there from day one. Otherwise, we can’t fly; we can’t take off,” he said.
Glauco Freitas, Hitachi Energy’s Brazil head, explained that the company plans to adapt its existing electric vehicle fleet charging technology to meet the unique demands of eVTOL aircraft.
Eve’s aircraft are currently in the flight testing phase, with full certification anticipated in 2028. The company has already secured approximately 2,700 pre-orders from customers around the world.
