India’s first flying taxi is here: When can you actually ride one

[00:00:00]Imagine flying across your city instead of sitting in [music] traffic. It may sound futuristic, but India has just taken a major step towards making that possible. An IIT Madras incubated startup, The ePlane Company, has unveiled India's first electric air taxi prototype. The company hopes to begin commercial operations by 2028. So, what exactly is an air taxi? How does it work? And when could you actually ride one?

[00:00:26]The aircraft is known as eVTOL, short for electric vertical takeoff and landing. It is a battery-powered aircraft designed for short-distance travel. [music] It takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter, but cruises forward like an airplane. That means it doesn't need a runway. The prototype weighs around 2,000 kg, can carry one pilot and two passengers, and is designed [music] to fly up to 100 km on a single charge. So, how does it work?

[00:00:54]The aircraft is powered by multiple electric motors driving several propellers. And because it runs on electricity, it is expected to be quieter and require less maintenance than conventional helicopters. Its multiple propellers also provide greater redundancy, helping the aircraft remain controllable even if one propulsion unit encounters a problem, depending on the nature of the failure. The idea is to provide fast, [music] short-distance transport by flying above road congestion.

[00:01:21]So, when will it start flying?

[00:01:23]Not immediately. Although the prototype has now been unveiled, [music] commercial passenger services are still a few years away. The company is targeting 2028 for commercial operations.

[00:01:34]But passenger flights won't come first.

[00:01:36]Instead, [music] it plans to launch air ambulance services before expanding into urban passenger transport. Why? Because hospitals operate from fixed locations, making [music] routes easier to manage.

[00:01:47]Emergency medical transport can also generate higher revenue in the early stages, [music] and in critical emergencies, saving even a few minutes can make a life-saving difference. In February 2025, the company signed an agreement to supply 788 eVTOL air ambulances to the International Critical Air Transport Team.

[00:02:07]Even with a working prototype, several major hurdles remain. The first is airworthiness certification, which every aircraft must receive before entering commercial service. This is one of the longest and most rigorous stages of aircraft development. Regulators are also working on rules covering pilot licensing, [music] air traffic management, and commercial flight operations. Cities will need dedicated landing hubs known as vertiports, where these aircraft can take off, land, recharge, and undergo maintenance.

[00:02:35]Battery technology is another challenge.

[00:02:37]Today's batteries store far less energy per kilogram than aviation fuel, limiting both the aircraft's range and the number of passengers it can carry.

[00:02:45]Countries, including the United States, [music] China, and several European nations, are already testing and certifying eVTOL aircraft.

[00:02:53]With this prototype, India has officially entered the global race for urban air mobility. For now, it's still an [music] early step, but if certification, infrastructure, and battery technology continue to advance, flying taxis [music] could one day become a practical option for urban transport in India. Follow Business Standard for more such stories.