Take a ride inside Ehang’s fully autonomous, two-seater air taxi

About an hour’s drive from the company’s headquarters in Guangzhou, China, sits a test site for Ehang’s autonomous aerial vehicles.
Perched on the tarmac during CNBC’s visit was the company’s fully autonomous, two-seater air taxi.
“This is our EH216 model, and it is positioned for short-distance transportation or sightseeing in the city,” said Dong Wang, Ehang’s vice president of technical research and development. His interview with “CNBC Tech: The Edge” has been translated into English from Mandarin.
In October 2023, Ehang announced the EH216-S AAV had secured a “type certificate” from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the country’s equivalent to the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States - a certification Wang said is a world first.
“The operation is fully automated. Its scheduling system runs on the server, so its route is automatically loaded, and then it carries out a completely automated route flight.”
The aircraft will cost $410,000 overseas, with a reduced price tag of 2.39 million yuan in China, equal to about $330,000.
“We also have a larger aircraft for transportation between cities. Because of this other aircraft, we also need to build a vertical take-off and landing flight site between cities,” Wang said.
Ehang plans to start commercial operations in China before the end of the year.
Take a tour of the EH216 and watch its test flight by clicking the video above.
#CNBC #EHang #eVTOL
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[@CNBCi]

*Thank you for watching. This video is a part of a four-part CNBC Tech series on eVTOLS. You can check out the other parts below:* • What are eVTOLS? The evolution of 'flying cars' explained - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZivc32mo9J0pZo • Inside Alef, the company trying to build a car you can both drive and fly - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6Xdpn9pjLicfbs • Inside Lilium, the German company trying to revolutionize air travel - kzbin.info/www/bejne/apnbnGZmd7mqnbs

[@yukon4511]

Why do you lend legitamcy to this fraudulent enterprise? No range numbers, no duration numbers, no recharge times, no video of passengers carried.

[@ateksudianto6237]

at least this is safer than boeing

[@siakakone6021]

Safer…🤦🏾‍♂️

[@BrandyHeng007]

US still using pilot driven helicopters China getting more advance by using pilotless, auto driven eVTOL

[@yukon4511]

You mean passengerless.

[@LH1xx]

@@yukon4511 Pilotless, passengers can be inside.

[@xx133]

No, you definitely want pilots. I don’t want my life in the hands of a primitive AI system. Trust me airlines want to replace of pilots, and are working to reduce pilots in cockpit from 2 to 1. Surely nothing will go wrong. Let’s start by building a decent public transportation system and high speed rail. Far cheaper safer efficient and cost effective.

[@LH1xx]

@@xx133 I trust AI pilots, I can't trust so many pilots who fly their machines on top of your head who may be alcoholics or drug addicts.

[@anthonyfernandez7833]

Yeah that must be it. Nothing to do with regulation. Ofc in China no one cares if you get killed in one of these things but in the west people do care.

[@alileevil]

The USA: This is a national security risk.

[@passby8070]

I can see that this can be used as express transport between high congestion areas or difficult terrain such as across a large body of water or steep mountains.

[@dhickey5919]

Wow. Back in the US we have Boeing.... sigh.

[@xx133]

We don’t even a modern public transportation and high speed rail system.

[@Pyramid1974]

No worries, I live in Florida and I have the answer to the whole evtol thing.. regardless of the electric part.. I just don't yet have the knowledge of being able to take what is in my head and put it down onto something and 3d print it or whatever.. I'm just a paraplegic guy living in his bedroom.. But I intend to figure these things out.. and when I do it will change the world.. Laugh if any wants to, I get it.. lol but mark my words..

[@destinywhitehouse8247]

​@@Pyramid1974 I believe you

[@timothylee2772]

Boeing track record in safety: 🤣🤣🤣👎👎👎👎

[@anthonyfernandez7833]

wumao bot need some reprogramming. Need to look up the term EVTOL.

[@wroughtforge7547]

China advancement mind blowing.

[@raideepu4]

Ehang and Xpeng are the pioneers in AEV and EVTOL.

[@darealbrianpark]

China is fast, USA is slow.

[@supertec2023]

When you take shortcuts for everything you can get things done faster.

[@davidz7858]

@@supertec2023 when everything has to deal with political correctness， you can't do anything. American workers are spoiled and too lazy. Also, people become more and more greedy, most smart people study for medical school, law school, finance, and you can see there are a lot of unqualified students in STEM fields and school has to Lower the standards so they can pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam

[@yuglobalcitizen2246]

​@@supertec2023yep China wants u to keep thinking like that.

[@ytfanlingeric]

@@supertec2023 Development of infrastructure like the high-speed railway system in the US is not taking shortcuts, that is definitely the American way to go.

[@Brad_Fallon]

China now has an electric bicycle that runs on solid hydrogen!

[@rominho151]

IS the future!

[@supertec2023]

No it's not

[@ppen8359]

What about privacy? Everything is server-controlled. The Chinese government may fly you directly to prison.

[@yukon4511]

What about internet and cable outages? Happens here frequently.

[@Dragon-Headed-Caterpillar]

Although all these major achievements are great (amazingly fast and effective constructions of infrastructures, high-speed rail, airports, space station, lunar explorations, EVs, battery technology, AI leadership, aircraft carriers, money-less payment systems, etc., etc.), however the most important aspect and characteristics of China is its peaceful nature in its global policies. The friendliness of its population toward visiting guests is another beauty of China. The tasty and affordable food variety also helps a lot.

[@justme6275]

wow, endless possibilities with this...

[@walungamaandrewkiyingi3780]

Can the flying taxi be customized to simpler missions like ranch rovers? That is a replacement for choppers that large land ranchers and other agro/conservation teams use

[@gulyascredo]

You have DJI for that. The top drone manufacturer in the world by far, and widely used in agriculture and forestry. Check it out.

[@lunlunqq]

The DJI matrice series maybe what you are looking for. While DJI had a few series of drone for industrial/agricultural used, check them out.

[@diamondgalore372]

Ehang 🎉

[@JBaxter-pi8oj]

What happens in the scenario where the passengers may have to take over the operation of this aircraft. Is this possible?

[@joosiekawk]

they should upgrade it with some type of skirt to cover the rotating wings

[@yukon4511]

What are your range and duration numbers?

[@james_l4337]

30km for recent certified one (EH216-S) for inner city travel, tourism, 2 passengers. Max 130km/hr or 10m/sec ~50m height, depending on regulations. Mass production beginning this year AutoPilot another company (video public) prototype 250km, 5 passengers speed 200km/hr max 400kg For between cities travel & within estimate roll out 2026 Etc.

[@yukon4511]

@@james_l4337 I anxiously await their sales figures.

[@yukon4511]

@@james_l4337 Wishing them all the success!

[@yukon4511]

@@james_l4337 I anxiously await the sales figures.

[@andyhughes1776]

Exposed spinning propellers so low to the ground present a serious safety issue. At least helicopter rotors spin above people's heads.

[@yukon4511]

Indeed. You (and I) are the only people who seem to recognize this serious design fault.

[@DemPilafian]

If you just turn your body sideways, there's more than enough space to get to the aircraft door without being turned into hamburger.

[@yukon4511]

@@DemPilafian You first

[@DemPilafian]

@@yukon4511 Eeew. Are you a cannibal?

[@user-qv6ud2hx6f]

There too many customers, so some will survive...

[@adtiamzon3663]

😍 Transformational air taxi, indeed. eHang 🇨🇳😲👏👏🤝🌞

[@mw6563]

I am not aware of the FAA certifying “autonomous” passenger flight. If the FAA did someday sign off, the first fatal crashes (for any reason) would force a pilot to be added on board. Passengers like pilots to be on their aircraft.

[@Goodfellow1234567]

@mw6563, how many car crashes occur in US daily? 6.1 million car accidents in US per year, almost 40k are fatal. The government didn't stop people from driving.

[@chingtuckmeng1122]

we dont give a f about your US FAA

[@308_Negra_Arroyo_Lane]

The same FAA that allowed Boeing to certify itself?

[@DaddyBear205]

This will never happen

[@renealvarado3658]

Wow an helicopter 🚁 revolution 😂😂😂

[@simonyapp]

With far less noise, emissions and cost.

[@marcmayou1422]

Very cool

[@Insight_Compass]

Interesting...

[@syncmaster915n]

Futuristic China 👍👍

[@rickdeckard9810]

This better have a ballistic parachute.

[@user-gf1zd7hm1e]

有

[@vervetech9395]

Most do

[@yishujia186]

This thing is supposed to fly at low attitude. There will not be enough time for you to decelerate and land safely.

[@Xind0898]

isn't this essentially a electric and lite helicopter?

[@silentstormstudio4782]

Air taxi vs helicopter ?

[@ALWH1314]

I wonder how to police this, what kind of traffic rules like speed limit, traffic crossing, criminal activity….?

[@hanfucolorful9656]

You have to start from some points, and improving down the road.

[@dukbokki9281]

EH stock going to the moon!

[@supertec2023]

😂😂😂😂 sure lol

[@a.m.doesit9347]

Who's here cause they bought at 120$ and still bag holding

[@EbenezerNimh]

Well see

[@Y2Kvids]

Taylor Swift watching carefully

[@Brad_Fallon]

If they used Solid Hydrogen and they could fly all day!

[@udhelhc]

Go China, Go Ehang

[@allex2451]

Just a big drone huh!?

[@ashishbhoi9565]

where are all the birds ? what if a bird hit the open propellers ?

[@wroughtforge7547]

Vertical propellers don’t suck birds in like jet engines

[@rschulzejr]

@@wroughtforge7547 With 8 motors, there is some redundancy. In certain cases you can lose 2 and descend in a spiral pattern. Or keep flying if they are on opposite sides

[@wroughtforge7547]

@@rschulzejr If you still use propeller technology you are absolutely right. Except now in the 21st century, they use something called AI.

[@PaulADAigle]

Why wouldn't you put the propellers above the cockpit? It seems safer that way.

[@stephenchurchill682]

My Guess: Because the batteries that supply the power in those arms are so heavy that if put overhead, the center of gravity will be too high.

[@PaulADAigle]

@@stephenchurchill682 That would make sense, only those are what lift it.

[@wroughtforge7547]

Interesting that you don’t even have an engineering degree

[@PaulADAigle]

@@wroughtforge7547 I don't? Says who?

[@supertec2023]

Oh hell no.

[@a.m.doesit9347]

Whos here cause they bought @ 120 and still bag holding

[@dukbokki9281]

Hurry up and get in before it’s too late.

[@mxweng]

I hope this is safe enough for average consumers; I don't want to be next Kobe Bryant.

[@3066961]

WAS he really inside????????

[@jojo-ep2pp]

watch more youtube videos about Ehang

[@3066961]

@@jojo-ep2pp it's not helping

[@r.a.8618]

Helicopter: uses internal combustion engine that consumes diesel and requires a pilot eVTOL: uses motors which consume electricity stored in batteries and doesn't need a pilot

[@Neil.C57510]

No roll cage, no shielded fans, no ballistic low/high parachutes + airbags. Your doomed if that falls out the sky.

[@colin1235421]

Agree, safety needs to come first...

[@Kabab]

While I'm not particularly keen on this company, it is an X16 craft which means it has essentially 4x redundancy. You can lose any 4 propellers/motors at a minimum and still land fine. You could probably lose a maximum of 10 propellers/motors and still get on the ground with minor to no injuries. At least this is how the craft should and probably is designed. A roll cage or parachute isn't going to make much if any difference if you fall from a height of ~200-300ft. The parachute will have very limited time to deploy even if it's predicted on time. All this being said, I would prefer a traditional helicopter with a very long proven track record

[@zsarimaxim692]

So when are we going to have parachute for 747?

[@merrick6484]

Yellen is more worry about over capacity.😆

[@Brad_Fallon]

Solid Hydrogen is the answer!

[@darwincorrealv]

No thank you they're all yours 😊😊😊

[@The38alt]

It's crazy you only put in where you're going. It's automated flight so what if it runs into another aircraft because of the system? What is the battery life cycle of each charge that they think it's a viable air transport

[@ChinaSongsCollection]

This is actually NOT new. EHang has been operating in the countrysides of China for YEARS! And there's never been any issues. ( I don't know why the video didn't mention this. The certification for commercial operations is specifically for those cities concerned. As far as I know, the company has been in service for years! )

[@Brad_Fallon]

Solid Hydrogen and they could fly all day!

[@yukon4511]

battery life? are you kidding? they go nowhere.

[@Brad_Fallon]

@@yukon4511 HYDROGEN!

[@yukon4511]

Liquid or gasous?

[@TheBagOfHolding]

How much can they lift and for how long or for what diatance? They need to prove its possible not show edited videos of people and empty crafts combined through editing.

[@TheBagOfHolding]

@CandyKanette no they don't. They are all edited. Find a full flight with a person in one.

[@TheBagOfHolding]

@CandyKanette you are mistaken. It's not possible for anyone because of the square cube law in physics. Find any video from anyone that it's possible. If it was there would be a full video of a full flight not videos edited with people and empty crafts. Find proof a person can get in one then take off and stay up 4 minutes. They will be edited if they even try to show that. You just think there is proof but you will not find any if you look l.

[@ChinaSongsCollection]

That's a stupid comment. EHang has been operating commercially in the countryside in China for YEARS!! You can find western reporters flying in those EHang autonomous drones from at least 2 years ago on KZbin. The certification for commercial operations is specifically for those cities concerned. (It never had permission to fly in the cities until now)

[@TheBagOfHolding]

@ChinaSongsCollection lies. If it was operating for years then a tourist would upload a complete flight on a video. The only flights are edited and made by the company or shills.

[@TheBagOfHolding]

@ChinaSongsCollection what video do you think is proof? What is the title?

[@tiramisu8359]

why not DJI scale up their drone to make it man size? they have all the expertise, data, and intelligence.

[@user-ob5rg6ne6l]

To be a taxi 🚖 it has to do pick and drop from home 🏡 to destinations.

[@DemPilafian]

It's both an air taxi and the world's largest hamburger maker.

[@yukon4511]

The West would never accept such a design fault.

[@somerset006]

No worries. Teslas will fly AUTONOMOUSLY by the end of next year.

[@graceantonio3573]

❤😊❤😂❤😊❤😂❤ WOW! ONLY IN CHINA I GUESS.... WHO CAN AFFORD IT IN PHILIPPINES? LOOKS REALY COOL & BEAT THE TRAFFIC HERE AHAHAHAAAAA!

[@Sr_art_3862]

If it wants to becomes an air taxi. But cannot produced in high volumes. The logical consequence is the end price for consumers to pay will be much higher than regular land taxis due to high demand. Not many people can afford it. So how this type of aircraft can solve urban traffic congestions?

[@meenakshikalita8353]

If it can become like uber(air uber here)..atleast fare wise,many people will defintely use it and slowly it will become accessible to the masses.Provided it clears all the safety measures too

[@jwt4377]

Currently, its fares are cheaper and shorter than ordinary taxis because air routes can be closer to straight lines.

[@Betweoxwitegan]

It can't, it's not even designed for that. This is just some idiots idea which sounded cool, looked cool and probably got a lot of government grants because it's seemingly technologically innovative, thus it becomes a status symbol that only the rich will buy and be able to afford. This is not a solution to traffic congestion because it's an inefficient form of transportation. its aim is to replace helicopters but is it even more efficient and commercially viable than a helicopter? The solution is public transportation not eVTOLS.

[@adolft_official]

@@meenakshikalita8353 Pajjeet Keep the streets clean in Inddia and wash left hand after wiping sh it

[@seokjin3000]

It's available on Taobao right now. The EH216-S.

[@atiqulbasher]

America: Let Market determine who is the winner! Also America: Stop China from entering our Markets!!

[@LanNguyen-vd4zt]

My habibi

[@abbeysekamatte8289]

This is an ad ! You guys aren't even shy about this ! CNBC !

[@donkeykong516]

This is an excellent ad

[@TheBagOfHolding]

@@donkeykong516 it's a deceptive ad. It's not possible to carry people for a duration or distance that would matter for travel anywhere.

[@CNBCi]

We will always let you know if content is sponsored. We don't upload ads to our channel.

[@TheBagOfHolding]

@@CNBCi how long did you witness it carry a human passanger? How far did it take someone?

[@kevinlin4895]

Entity list

[@Cdictator]

This is just a large drone. Can’t carry a person on it 😢

[@yukon4511]

After years of developement, they post a video with no indication of passengers in flight. Should be clear to the world that this craft can lift batteries or people, but not both.

[@seokjin3000]

A simple search results in many videos. They're already being used in Dubai. CNBC chose to post this particular video.

[@yukon4511]

@seokjin3000 What's your point? Battery-powered flying cars don't work.

[@TheBagOfHolding]

@@seokjin3000 they are not being used. Why wouldn't a tourist or passanger make a video of their trip on one? Anyone that rode something like that would record it. It's fraudulent vaporware.

[@TheBagOfHolding]

@@seokjin3000 no such video exists.

[@yukon4511]

@@seokjin3000 Indeed. A simple search will reveal these toys will not carry people and batteries.

[@jagernautsteelfist3648]

China really playing cyberpunk fr

[@young1151]

It's going to take a single accident to bankrupt the company.

[@user-gf1zd7hm1e]

有降落伞的，兄弟，发生事故可以安全降落

[@yukon4511]

Why won't you fly in your company's aircraft?

[@alhavana9426]

Lemme guess !! 20min of flight time then 6hrs of charge 😂

[@yukon4511]

15

[@herrwolf5184]

you underestimate battery technology

[@yukon4511]

@@herrwolf5184 Please explain it to me.

[@FabioCapela]

@@yukon4511 Recharging should be 30 minutes or less assuming a powerful enough charger. It doesn't make much sense to charge faster anyway because there's an inspection between landing and taking off. How much time it takes for a battery to charge (or safely discharge) doesn't depend on how big it is, but rather on the chemistry and how powerful the charger is. Given the same chemistry and a powerful enough charger, an AAA battery driving a tiny toy car and a container-sized battery driving a large electric cargo ship charge in the same time.

[@XAirForce]

You know I’m doing artwork about all this and it’s getting harder and harder to catch up with all the robots and EVTOLS being released 😮😅 @WHITEHOUSE hey I need an old Air Force Base to do product unboxing. 😂. I need hangers to put robots and aircraft into so they don’t get dusty.😅. Oh wait you don’t get a fly this. Fail! 😂

[@Ottovonostbahnhof]

有商业化前景吗？珠海又要增加一个失败案例

[@yukon4511]

None. No range, little payload, certain failure.

[@ronglenn919]

All we have in the USA are guns and boats..

[@1ndragunawan]

Certified by Chinese Aviation Authority, which means it's legal to fly only in China.

[@mountainclimber4511]

yeah because each country's CAA has its own requirements, so even the cover China its a big market and then some other countries

[@wroughtforge7547]

They don’t have this technology anywhere else.

[@DaddyBear205]

The rest of the world will be left behind

[@1ndragunawan]

@@DaddyBear205 unlikely, since there are so many startups on Earth making this kind of vehicle.

[@bogdanivchenko3723]

2:55 you see how there are 2 headphones? He didn't fly it.

[@FabioCapela]

It's autonomous. You don't fly it, you just get inside and it takes you to your destination.

[@vervetech9395]

You weren't listening 😂

[@wroughtforge7547]

One is for the other passenger

[@charmingjr7443]

No safety precautions were taken into account during the building of this aircraft. Exposed😮 blades 😂 could kill one easily in an event of crash or something 😢😂

[@iyansetiadi1986]

So is helicopter.

[@charmingjr7443]

​@iyansetiadi1986 helicopter 🚁 blade are above n big, while this is at the sides. 😅

[@RSCB]

w helicopter

[@K4R3N]

Saw what happend to Kobe, you're not fooling me into this 🚁 ☠️

[@TheBagOfHolding]

Show a person get in one then take off then fly 5 minutes then land all in one unedited video. Until someone accomplishes this simple feat they are vaporware. A.tourist would record their complete flight wonder why none have. All evtol for humans to ride in are vaporware.

[@plethoracopius6268]

F**king background music**

[@mahtabhussain4812]

Our future cars

[@mikeliu4261]

soon this company will be blacklisted by US politicians

[@I1sAd4mmZX_]

Nope not for me…

[@MegaPapa8888]

CHINA IS WAY AHEAD OF US IN LOW ATTITUDE TRAVEL.

[@JarawanYT]

Helicopter Pilot loosing there job soon 😔

[@LanNguyen-vd4zt]

There have been numerous VTOL for a decades. This isn’t the first one or the best one. Do some research.

[@rustynuts4426]

but what is china doing about the falling population?

[@alhkcblack9617]

Making lots of robots 😂

[@AndrewLambert-wi8et]

400 000 USA DOLLARS? STUPID!

[@yukon4511]

If it were free, it would fail.

[@bigboss-oz2vi]

what a joke its a oversized drone

[@Johnfulkan283]

So it's a cheap helicopter

[@Brad_Fallon]

Solid Hydrogen and they could fly all day!

[@topofthegreen]

pilots are doomed, no more jobs.

[@nucu9407]

The US :" It's a national security threat to the US and our lapdogs. It must be owned by the Americans or we'll have the world to outflank Ehang!"

[@mikezhang2351]

😂

[@user-cn9hz4zw8i]

too expensive to our Chinese ,maybe american can affordable this thing