Will Cambodia See eVTOLs Soon - Singapore Airshow 2024
During the 2024 Singapore Airshow, it was announced that Yugo Global Industries Pte. Ltd. (Yugo) had signed a memorandum of understanding to study the potential for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and eVTOL flights in Southeast Asia with Eve Air Mobility.
Eve Air Mobility eVTOL Yugo is a Singapore-based private aviation company with representation in Cambodia that targets regional air mobility innovation and works with partner air transport operators such as PhilJets and Helistar.
Thierry Tea, Chairman of Yugo (and CEO of PhilJets) said of the MoU, “We strongly believe that Southeast Asian economies will greatly contribute to the development of the eVTOL and UAM industry. Our collaboration with Eve will offer valuable insights into the essential requirements for regional air mobility development.”
Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) are a newer breed of generally smaller aircraft that take off vertically and are powered by electric motors instead of combustion engines.
Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility added, “We are looking forward to collaboratively working with Yugo to study and help define the UAM ecosystem in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Our goal is to also understand and define a business model that not only enables eVTOL flights in the region but also advances the overall mobility ecosystem.”
Eve has begun construction of its full-scale prototype and is scheduled to begin testing the aircraft in 2024 and is hopeful of having its aircraft enter service by 2026. Eve is a spinoff from Embraer, a well-known private jet manufacturer.
With testing and approvals and regulatory roadmaps for air mobility still to be resolved in the region, it's unclear when eVTOLs will be a reality in the region or globally. Yugo had previously signed an agreement with U.S. start-up Electra to acquire 12 of its hybrid-electric aircraft which are are expected to enter service in 2028.
Could Phnom Penh Be A Vertiport Site?
A vertiport is a small airport terminal for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In 2024, the Philippines is currently constructing the New Manila International Airport by San Miguel Corporation, while OCIC Group is building Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Techo International Airport (TIA) in the Cambodian capital, which is due to open in 2025.
The airports are said to be exploring the viability of charging stations and flight routes for air taxis and other electric aircraft. Yugo and Eve will look at the potential infrastructure requirements to support eVTOL operations, including the regulations. They will also analyse service centre and vertiport size and capabilities, ground handling and other areas as needed, said Yugo's press release.
Thierry Tea is also Vice President of OCIC Group which has developed some of the biggest construction and infrastructure projects in the Kingdom.
Lilium Identifies Cambodia As An eVTOL Route
PhilJets also announced at the 2024 Singapore Air Show that it plans to add 10 Lilium six-passenger eVTOL aircraft to its fleet. The operator mainly caters for private aviation charters with an extended network in the Southeast Asian region and they are exploring routes and the market for an on-demand air taxi service.
Lilium is aiming to bring their Lilium Jet into commercial service in 2026 and also identified Cambodia as having the potential for eVTOL routes at the Airshow.
What Is The eVTOL Industry Worth?
There are a wide-ranging number of predictions on the valuations for the eVTOL and the air mobility industry, with some analysts suggesting the eVTOL market be projected to reach USD $23 billion by 2028 but the range is anywhere from USD $4-40 billion. It is such a new industry that has been held back by regulatory approvals and has been rumoured for years to be introduced commercially into major cities but this has yet to materialise.
Several MoUs have been announced over the past several years with more recent studies suggesting 2030 could be more realistic to see commercial air mobility taxi services but nothing is guaranteed. In Asia:
- AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AirAsia), previously signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding in 2022 to lease a minimum of 100 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon.
- In Q4 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a type certificate to Chinese-based and Wall Street-listed EHang for its two-seat EH216-S vehicle - which is fully autonomous! This does have strict restrictions and limited initial flight operations.
- Singapore has been very progressive in laying the groundwork for potential eVTOL air services, and a number of manufacturers are based in the Asian region.