Principal Technical Specialist - Simulation, Research and Technology

Evolito and Airbus to develop electric wheel taxi system. Evolito Limited has entered into a collaboration with Airbus, supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and Innovate UK, to develop an on-aircraft, electric wheel taxi system. The system will allow aircraft to taxi without ground support equipment and with the main engines off, cutting operating costs, noise and emissions. The project targets a 47 per cent reduction in taxi-related emissions. Evolito has been selected to develop a low speed, high torque electric motor based on its proprietary axial flux motor technology for Project SONATA (System Optimisation of Non-propulsive energy in Aircraft Taxi technologies and Architectures). Evolito said its axial flux motors deliver best in class specific power and torque. Expected to deliver ~56Nm/kg and provide 350kW at peak power, the proposed axial flux motor developed in Project SONATA will also meet the integration requirements for future landing gear applications. "Evolito is thrilled to collaborate on project SONATA," Evolito CEO Chris Harris said in a statement. "By developing low speed, high torque motors for aircraft landing systems, we are extending the performance envelope of our technology and contributing to the reduction of aviation's environmental impact whilst also reducing operating costs. This collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the aerospace sector." In addition to Evolito, Project SONATA brings together several other organisations, including Southampton University, Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult, Magnomatics, Drive System Design (DSD) and DePe Gear. For their part, DSD is contributing its expertise in electronics, control systems and software development to support the creation of next-generation inverter technology. These systems will play a key role in the electrification of aircraft ground operations, aiming to reduce emissions and improve efficiency while taxiing at airports. Steven Simmonds, chief engineer of systems programmes at DSD, said: "This project demonstrates how the aerospace sector is now moving into the same kind of electrification and hybridisation journey that automotive has already undergone. We're applying our experience from high-performance automotive systems to help aerospace customers overcome technical and regulatory hurdles in the shift toward cleaner, smarter aviation."

Vertical Aerospace selects Evolito as electric engine partner for Valo eVTOL. Vertical Aerospace ("Vertical" or "Company") [NYSE:EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today announced a new long-term partnership with Evolito, a leader in high-performance electric propulsion systems, to supply electric propulsion units ("EPUs") - electric engines - that will power Valo, Vertical's commercial eVTOL aircraft. Under the agreement, Evolito will provide its unique EPU architecture, lightweight, efficient electric motors and high-integrity DAL-A power electronics, integrated into a single electric engine, providing the extended range, high performance and built-in redundancy required for Valo's entry into commercial service. These are critical requirements for Valo's certification to equivalent safety standards as large commercial airliners, targeted in 2028. As part of the partnership, Vertical and Evolito plan to jointly certify the EPUs with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with concurrent validation with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is expected to be followed by global regulator validation. Evolito holds CAA Design Organisation Approval - a prerequisite for UK type certification and commercial operations. Vertical is also developing a hybrid-electric variant offering greater range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the Advanced Air Mobility market, with Evolito's EPUs integrated into the platform. The hybrid-electric variant is scheduled to begin flight testing in mid-2026. "Vertical's approach to Valo is grounded in rigorous engineering and certification discipline. Our collaboration is centred on delivering a propulsion system that provides the performance, redundancy and reliability required for airliner-level safety standards, while remaining practical for commercial operations. It's a partnership built around getting the fundamentals right." David King, Chief Engineer, Vertical Aerospace "We're thrilled to be working with Vertical Aerospace, a company that shares our vision for a cleaner, more connected future. Our engines are designed to meet the rigorous demands of aerospace, and we're excited to contribute to the success of Vertical's aircraft with propulsion systems that deliver unmatched performance and efficiency." Chris Harris, CEO of Evolito "Vertical is taking a rigorous, certification-led approach to electric aviation, and we're proud to support that journey. Valo reflects the kind of disciplined engineering and long-term thinking required to bring electric flight into real-world service, and we will continue to work closely with the Vertical team and their partners as the programme progresses toward certification." Dave Shilliday, Vice President & General Manager, Advanced Air Mobility, Honeywell Aerospace. Strengthening the UK's AAM ecosystem This partnership supports the UK Government's ambition to lead in aerospace innovation, backed by £2.3 billion of funding over the next decade through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to accelerate the development of cleaner, more efficient aircraft. ATI support has played a key role in advancing the EPUs and aircraft technologies underpinning this collaboration. "This is a welcome win for Britain's world-class aerospace sector, which will help us stay at the cutting edge of innovation and continue leading the way on zero emission flight. We're backing companies like Vertical and Evolito with support through our modern Industrial Strategy and the Aerospace Technology Institute, while the CAA's world-leading regulation is helping the industry soar and create good jobs right across the country." Chris McDonald, Industry Minister Evolito was spun out of YASA in 2021 to commercialise next-generation electric motor technology for the rapidly growing aerospace market. YASA is a world-leading pioneer of axial-flux electric motors and was acquired by Mercedes-Benz in July 2021. Evolito's engineering team brings deep aerospace expertise, and its technology has been chosen for Electra's hybrid-electric aircraft programme. This announcement follows Vertical's recent appointment of Richard Moore as Vice President of Powertrain, as the company advances toward certification, industrialization and manufacturing readiness.