(last updated 07/08/2025)
The rapid growth of future flight technology, in particular around eVTOLs, has created an exciting opportunity to revolutionise air travel. By enabling a cleaner and more efficient form of transportation, eVTOLs could play a key role in the decarbonisation of aviation and support the industry to reach Net Zero commitments.
As we look towards a more sustainable future, it is imperative to explore the key innovations within the sector which could transform the future of flight as we know it. Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing aircrafts have been gathering momentum in recent years and act as a catalyst for discovering alternative sustainable ways to fly.
eVTOLs and the Impact on Sustainable Aviation
An eVTOL aircraft uses electric-powered rotors or propellers and can smoothly transition from vertical take-off to forward flight. The concept emerged in 2009 when NASA released a video of the Puffin concept, an electric-powered vertical take-off and landing air vehicle, achieving its first flight in 2010, gaining immense attention worldwide. Since then, advancements with electric propulsion have truly taken off with leading industry players like Boeing and Airbus as well as emerging innovators such as Joby Aviation, BETA Technologies and Vertical Aerospace, experimenting in their development as a goal to use this technology to reach the industry’s sustainability targets and provide a more efficient form of transportation.
Sustainability Challenges in Traditional Aviation
Understanding the aviation industry’s carbon footprint is crucial to highlighting the importance of future flight technologies as a means of a more sustainable way to travel. One of the key challenges faced by traditional aviation is its contribution to carbon dioxide emissions — whilst the industry is only responsible for 2-3% of global CO2 emissions, it is vital to reduce this number to reach Net Zero and change people’s perception.
Read more about aviation’s impact in our Myth-busting Preconceptions blog here. The industry must collaborate in our efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by investing in new technologies, transitioning to alternative fuels, and adopting sustainable practices.
Investing in new fleets is an effective way to reduce fuel emissions. If airlines use modern aircraft with advanced technologies, it is possible to reduce fuel consumption by 15-20%. Alternatively, innovative solutions like eVTOLs can further reduce emissions, noting that a helicopter burns through 20 gallons of fuel an hour compared to an eVTOL which produces zero emissions (Archer Aviation, 2021).
Sustainability Benefits of eVTOLs
This technology offers numerous benefits, with one of the most significant being their lower impact on the environment. Powered by electric propulsion, they produce zero emissions during flight, which can play a crucial role in reducing the sector’s carbon footprint. The source of the electricity required to charge each eVTOL is what currently impacts their overall sustainability credential. If the electricity sourced come from sustainable sources such as solar or windfarms then the overall emissions impact is zero, but if the electricity used comes from burning traditional fossil fuels then the usage of eVTOLs only partially lowers emissions.
Additionally, eVTOLs are almost 1,000 times quieter than of a helicopter, making eVTOLs a great option to reduce noise pollution in urban areas (Archer Aviation, 2021).
Furthermore, another advantage of eVTOLs is their versatility. They are designed to be able to take off and land in a variety of locations, including rooftops and small landing pads. This could help alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by cars and trucks on the ground.
eVTOLs: Current Challenges
eVTOL technology evolves at a rapid pace, with the front-runners in the sector all now successfully demonstrating test flights and passenger capabilities. They are overcoming earlier challenges centered upon battery weight and charging limitations, with advances in technology and greater collaboration across the sector. Indeed, collaboration is the key to the majority of the challenges facing the industry.
Currently, some of the biggest issues facing companies in this market stem from investment, which includes the building of suitable infrastructure at existing airports and helipads and separately all, new vertiports. Regulation also remains a consistent barrier to this innovative technology taking flight.
A supportive regulatory framework should enable the safe and efficient operation of future flight technologies and whilst essential has been slow to introduce. Government regulators and industry players have been working closely together to outline certification standards and procedures, ensuring that these technologies make it to market. The aviation industry is well-positioned to take advantage of the advances in sustainability, efficiency and safety which eVTOLs provide.
