Chennai-based startup The ePlane Company has unveiled what it says is India’s first full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype, an electric flying taxi platform. The prototype, named PT-01, is presented at the company’s production facility on the IIT Madras Discovery Campus, where the effort traces back to incubation at IIT Madras. The company says the aircraft is designed to help address urban mobility needs without requiring extensive new city infrastructure, aiming instead to use existing landing sites such as hospital helipads and rooftops.
According to the released details, PT-01 is approximately 2.2 tonnes and has an eight-metre wingspan. The company claims a range of about 110 km on a single charge. It is intended initially for emergency medical services, with air ambulances highlighted as the first commercial use case because hospitals already maintain landing spaces. The company says it is built to carry a pilot and up to 200 kg of payload, accommodating a patient, a paramedic, and equipment.
The company outlines a phased path to commercial operations, with ground testing expected to begin in 2027 and certification flights later that year, targeting commercial deployment in 2028 pending test results and regulatory approvals.
