UPS reveals plan to buy hundreds of eVTOLs that can fly up to 250 miles to deliver packages - take a look

Thomas PalliniApr 7, 2021, 20:27 IST

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.

UPS is going electric - in the air.

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.

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.

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.

A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS

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.

"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.

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.

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.

A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies

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.

Four fixed propellers provide vertical lift while one propeller pushes the aircraft forward.

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 workers handling packages. UPS

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.

The eVTOLs can be recharged in under an hour, allowing for quick turnaround times in between flights while cargo is loaded and unload.

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.

A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies

Electric aircraft also have the benefit of being quiet and emission-free while in flight.

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."

A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies

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."

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.

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 aircraft simulator. Beta Technologies

UPS' eVTOL fleet also won't look like its all-brown delivery trucks.

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.

A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS

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.

Here it is on a 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

United plans to use the aircraft to shuttle passengers to and from major airports in congested cities like Los Angeles.

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

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

Archer similarly announced plans to go public through a SPAC merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corp. in a $1.1 billion deal.

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.

A Blade Bell 407 helicopter. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

And Beta Technologies might just be next, especially with a new heavy-hitting partner like UPS.

A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. Beta Technologies

UPS says the first 10 aircraft are slated to arrive as early as 2024.

A rendering of Beta Technologies' eVTOL aircraft. UPS

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UPS reveals plan to buy hundreds of eVTOLs that can fly up to 250 miles to deliver packages - take a look

UPS is going electric - in the air.

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.

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.

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.

Four fixed propellers provide vertical lift while one propeller pushes the aircraft forward.

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.

The eVTOLs can be recharged in under an hour, allowing for quick turnaround times in between flights while cargo is loaded and unload.

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.

Electric aircraft also have the benefit of being quiet and emission-free while in flight.

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."

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.

The Alia-250c aircraft will be piloted but may be operated autonomously in the future. UPS also has authorization for autonomous flights.

UPS' eVTOL fleet also won't look like its all-brown delivery trucks.

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.

Here it is on a UPS Airlines Boeing 747-8F.

UPS' commitment to eVTOLs follows a $1 billion order from United Airlines of similar aircraft from Archer.

United plans to use the aircraft to shuttle passengers to and from major airports in congested cities like Los Angeles.

EVTOL and urban air mobility companies are currently riding a wave of new funding from special-purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs.

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.

Archer similarly announced plans to go public through a SPAC merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corp. in a $1.1 billion deal.

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.

And Beta Technologies might just be next, especially with a new heavy-hitting partner like UPS.

UPS says the first 10 aircraft are slated to arrive as early as 2024.