ELIRE INFRA’S BLUE AND GREEN VERTIPORT HUBS
EF GLOBAL VTOL

EF Global VTOL

30 Dec 2022

EF GLOBAL VTOL

Simple Flying has reported that Elire wants to create a modular electric aviation and transportation ecosystem on land and on water, creating an ecosystem of a new form of multimodal advanced air mobility port.

The infrastructure aspect is a mission to create zero-emission electric air transportation floating on the water and built alongside seaports and harbors to create the next transport ecosystem with 2000+ mobility hubs by 2040.

Moving such facilities offshore with what Elire calls ‘Blue Hubs’ would also eliminate the dangers of climate impact on new infrastructure in locations vulnerable to the rise of sea levels.

They would also allow for the electrification of passenger sea vessels, and, as they are only anchored down, they can be moved according to demand. The design of the hubs and superstructure will integrate current smart building technology and allow for future technology integration.

However, there are also solutions for scaleable and interoperable on-land construction as both the offshore and on-land hubs can be turned into clusters with several hexagonally shaped units, for instance as passenger terminals or energy storage spaces.

Hydrogen fuel-cell technology will power the site with renewable energy, and the solution for storing the hydrogen will also be implemented into a refueling system for vehicles, aircraft and vessels. The solutions currently under development are designed to function entirely off-grid.

Meanwhile, the company’s other branch, Elire Aero, wants to have a certified air taxi aircraft ready for distribution by 2024, and differs from other UAM startups in that it is looking to retrofit conventional takeoff and landing vehicles (CTOL) and short takeoff and landing vehicles (STOL) with electric propulsion systems.

Elire is looking to certify a retrofitted electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) vehicle as early as late next year with the first unit scheduled to roll out from the production line towards the end of 2024.

Simple Flying concludes: “As far as we are aware, the only other amphibious eVTOL projects currently out there are US Air Force-backed Reno-based Valkyrie System Aerospace HoverJet Guardian concept, and a variant of the Wave aircraft from New Zealand’s Wickers.”