EHang

{{short description|Company}} {{Infobox company | name = Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd. | logo = EHang logo.svg | logo_upright = 1.2 | logo_caption = Logo | former_name = Beijing Yi-Hang Creation Science & Technology Co., Ltd.<br /> {{zh|c=北京亿航创世科技有限公司}} | type = Public | traded_as = {{NASDAQ|EH}} | ISIN = | industry = Aerospace, Advanced Air Mobility | predecessor = | founded = {{start date and age|2014|df=y}} | founder = Huazhi Hu, Yifang (Derrick) Xiong | hq_location = Guangzhou, China (headquarters) | area_served = Worldwide | products = Autonomous aerial vehicles<ref>{{cite web|title=Index|url=http://www.ehang.com/ehang184/index|website=EHang.com |access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref><br /> Ghost, Hexacopter,<br /> Ehang 184, Ehang 216 | key_people = Huazhi Hu | revenue = | revenue_year = | operating_income = | income_year = | net_income = | net_income_year = | assets = | assets_year = | equity = | equity_year = | owner = | num_employees = 233 | num_employees_year = 2020 | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|https://ehang.com/}} }}

'''Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd.''' ({{zh|c=广州亿航智能技术有限公司}}) is a company based in Guangzhou, China that develops and manufactures autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) and passenger AAVs<ref name="EHang">{{cite web |title=EHang Holdings Limited Rings the Opening Bell in Celebration of its IPO|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/events/ehang-holdings-limited-rings-the-opening-bell-in-celebration-of-its-ipo|website=Nasdaq.com |access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nytha |first1=Michael |title=Robo Air Taxi Maker EHang Ends Trading Debut Down a Penny|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-12/chinese-robo-air-taxi-maker-ehang-falls-in-u-s-trading-debut|newspaper=Bloomberg |date=12 December 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref> which have entered service in China for aerial cinematography, photography, emergency response, and survey missions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Celia |title=Nerves, waiver, screaming, lift-off, joy: a two-minute test ride in a passenger drone from China's Ehang|url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/innovation/article/3024726/nerves-waiver-screaming-lift-joy-two-minute-test-ride-passenger|website= |date=29 August 2019 |access-date=22 December 2019}}</ref>

==History== EHang announced<ref name="First"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/07/first-passenger-drone-makes-world-debut|title=First passenger drone makes its debut at CES|agency=Associated Press|date=7 January 2016|publisher=|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> the ''Ehang 184'', introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2016, as the world's first AAV capable of carrying passengers.<ref>{{cite news|title=World's first passenger drone unveiled at CES|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ces-passenger-drone/worlds-first-passenger-drone-unveiled-at-ces-idUSKBN0UM0GW20160108|work=Reuters|date=2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=First passenger drone makes its debut at CES|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/07/first-passenger-drone-makes-world-debut|work=The Guardian|date=7 January 2016|language=en}}</ref>

The company announced plans with Dubai's Road & Transportation Agency in 2017 to launch an autonomous flying-taxi service starting in the summer of 2017, but didn't succeed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/business/21718541-firms-such-ehang-and-musically-are-discovering-more-opportunities-abroad|title=Chinese startups push into foreign markets|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2017/02/16/dubai-travel-drones-air-taxi-ehang-184/|title=This MegaDrone Will Be a Self-Flying Air Taxi in Dubai This Summer|website=Fortune|access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref> The company has also worked on a project with Nevada's Institute for Autonomous Systems for an AAV taxi that can transport a single passenger for up to 23 minutes with the EHang 184.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/08/481286099/drone-taxis-nevada-to-allow-testing-of-passenger-drone|title=Drone Taxis? Nevada To Allow Testing Of Passenger Drone|work=NPR.org|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en}}</ref>

In November 2018, an agreement was signed with the city of Lyon, France, to open a research center there. At the same time, a cooperation agreement was concluded with the Austrian aerospace group FACC to further develop, certify and produce for EHang in Europe as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://evtol.news/2019/01/02/ehang-grows-in-europe/ |work=evtol.news |title=Ehang Grows in Europe |access-date=2019-08-17 |archive-date=2019-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712081324/http://evtol.news/2019/01/02/ehang-grows-in-europe/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On December 12, 2019 EHang was listed on the NASDAQ with the symbol EH.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://asiatimes.com/2020/01/uav-maker-ehang-strikes-out-on-nasdaq/ |work=asiatimes.com |title=UAV maker EHang strikes out on Nasdaq |date=2 January 2020 |access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref> On March 18, 2020, EHang decided to go into a strategic partnership with Llíria, a Spanish city, using the marketing term urban air mobility. This includes tourism as well as logistics. The City Council and EHang will also work with the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency. Llíria is the second city in Spain where EHang has an agreement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ehang.com/news/617.html |work=ehang.com |title=EHang Partners with Llíria of Spain to Expand UAM Pilot City Initiative in Europe |access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref>

The EH216-S was approved for commercial flights in 2023. Approval was extended to unpiloted flights (limited to taking off and landing at the same vertiport) by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in March 2025.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ridden |first=Paul |date=2025-04-01 |title=Pilotless air taxi gains approval for commercial flight operations |url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/ehang-eh216s-evtol-commercial-flight-approval/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=New Atlas |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Aircraft == === Ghost ===

Ghost is a quadcopter developed by Ehang in a typical quadrotor layout with a pair of skids as landing gear. However, Ghost has an unusual feature: the rotors are mounted below the tips of the arms, instead of being mounted on top of the tips of the arms like most other multirotors. Ghost is mainly intended for aerial photography missions, and it is controlled by a smartphone. Its complete name is ''Ghost Intelligent Aerial Robot'' ({{zh|t=Ghost智能空中机器人|p=Ghost zhìnéng kōngzhōng jīqìrén}}).<ref name="UAV">{{cite web |url=http://tech.sina.com.cn/s/2014-07-21/08049507544.shtml |title=Ghost quadcopter |access-date=2014-07-21 }})</ref>

{{Aircraft specs |ref=mobile geeks<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.mobilegeeks.de/test/ehang-ghost-drone-vr/ |author=Nicole |title=Die Ehang Ghost Drone 2.0 VR im Test |date=2017-03-17 |access-date=2019-07-18 |language=de }})</ref> |prime units?=met  |crew= |capacity= |length m= |span m=0.35 |height m= |empty weight kg= |gross weight kg=0.68 |max takeoff weight kg= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=4 |eng1 name= |eng1 type=Electric |eng1 kw= |power original=

|prop blade number=4 |prop name= |prop dia m=

|rot number= |rot dia m= |rot area sqm= |rot area note=

|more performance=

|avionics= }}

=== Hexacopter ===

Ehang Hexacopter is a UAV developed by Ehang and it has not yet been named. The existence of this hexacopter was revealed for the first time to the public when it made its public debut in August 2014 at TechCrunch Beijing.<ref name="UAV0">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/08/11/ehang-hexacopter-drone-china/??ncid=rss_full |title=Hexadcopter |date=2014-08-11 |access-date=2014-08-11 }}</ref> The yet-to-be-named hexacopter is constructed of carbon fiber composite material with a pair of skids as landing gear. The arms of this hexacopter are curved, as opposed to the straight arms of most multi-rotors currently on the market. The hexacopter is controlled by laptop computer.<ref name="UAV0" />

{{Aircraft specs |ref=engadget<ref name="UAV0" /> |prime units?=met  |crew= |capacity=10 kg |length m= |span m= |height m= |empty weight kg= |gross weight kg= |max takeoff weight kg= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=6 |eng1 name= |eng1 type=Electric |eng1 kw= |power original=

|prop blade number=6 |prop name= |prop dia m=

|rot number= |rot dia m= |rot area sqm= |rot area note=

|more performance=

|avionics= }}

=== EHang 184 ===

{{Infobox aircraft | name = EHang 184 | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Ehang184.png | alt = | caption = Passenger drone | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Personal air vehicle PAV | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = China | manufacturer = EHang | design_group = | designer = EHang Holdings Limited | builder = | issuer = | status = Unknown | owners = | primary_user = China | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 2014 | retired = | first_flight = 2016<ref name="First">{{cite web |last1=Gruber |first1=Ben |title=World's first passenger drone unveiled at CES|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ces-passenger-drone/worlds-first-passenger-drone-unveiled-at-ces-idUSKBN0UM0GW20160108|website=Reuters.com |access-date=2019-12-13}}</ref> | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The EHang 184 is an autonomous passenger drone capable of reaching over {{cvt|62|mph}}. EHang says it started carrying passengers in 2015 and since made 40 journeys till releasing footage in February 2018. In three years, more than 1,000 test flights were conducted, including some "violent" ones with dummies, in storm-force winds, in low visibility, at night and {{cvt|1,000|feet}} above the ground.<ref name="CNN8feb2018">{{cite news |url= https://money.cnn.com/2018/02/08/technology/ehang-self-flying-drone/index.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180208164807/http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/08/technology/ehang-self-flying-drone/index.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= February 8, 2018 |title= People are now flying around in autonomous drones |author=Michelle Toh and Jon Ostrower |work= CNN |date=2018-02-08 }}</ref> It has eight propellers on four arms and by July 2018, 30 to 40 single pilot EHang 184 have been built.<ref name="eVTOL1jul2018" />

{{Aircraft specs |ref=Electric VTOL News<ref>{{cite web |url=http://evtol.news/2018/04/01/ehang-doubles-its-184/ |title=EHANG Doubles its 184 |work=evtol.news |access-date=2019-08-17 |archive-date=2020-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616232230/https://evtol.news/2018/04/01/ehang-doubles-its-184/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> and AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/ehang-184-autonomous-aerial-vehicle-aav/ |title=EHANG Doubles its 184 |work=aerospace-technology.com |access-date=2019-08-17 }}</ref> |prime units?=met  |crew=None (self-piloted) |capacity=1 passenger |length m=3.86 |span m=5.5 |height m=1.44 |empty weight kg= |gross weight kg= |max takeoff weight kg= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=8 in 4 pairs of 2 |eng1 name= |eng1 type=Electric Motor |eng1 kw= |eng1 note= |power original=

|prop blade number=8 2 |prop name=fixed pitch |prop dia m= |prop dia note=

|rot number= |rot dia m= |rot area sqm= |rot area note=

|more performance=

|avionics= }}

=== EHang 216 ===

The 216 is a two-seater with 16 propellers in a coaxial double-baled design. It made over 1,000 manned flights by July 2018 and its maximum trip length was 8.8 km (5.5 miles).<ref name="eVTOL1jul2018">{{cite news |url= http://evtol.news/2018/07/01/ehang-makes-more-184s-and-216s/ |title= EHang Makes More 184s and 216s |date=2018-07-01 |work= Electric VTOL News |access-date= 2018-07-19 |archive-date=2018-07-19 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180719203527/http://evtol.news/2018/07/01/ehang-makes-more-184s-and-216s/ |url-status= dead }}</ref> It could fly 25 min for a range of {{cvt|30-40|km|nmi}}. The aircraft is targeted for autonomous flying, to be monitored from an EHang or its customer command-and-control center. Austrian aerostructures supplier FACC AG partnered with EHang to certify and produce the aircraft in Europe, within simpler certification requirements for takeoff weights below 600 kg (1,320 lb).<ref name=AvWeek12apr2019/>

In October 2018, the CAAC approved initial passenger operations at specific locations to develop urban air taxis regulations. EHang began taking preorders since, for island-hopping and to a Chinese coastal resort for aerial sightseeing within their site. A {{cvt|1|km|nmi}} shuttle across the river of its home city of Guangzhou should avoid a 30 min drive due to traffic congestion on the downtown bridge. US biotechnology company United Therapeutics, manufacturing organs for human transplants, should test rapid automated delivery from laboratory to hospital by the end of 2019.<ref name="AvWeek12apr2019">{{cite news |url=https://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/ehang-trials-autonomous-passenger-flights-under-special-rules-china |title=Ehang Trials Autonomous Passenger Flights Under Special Rules In China |date= Apr 12, 2019 |author=Graham Warwick |work=Aviation Week & Space Technology}}</ref>

In March 2020, the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority issued a permit for manned test and certification flights. It is the first such approval in Europe.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/03/06/ehang-receives-operational-flight-permit-norway-caa/ |title=EHang Receives 'Operational Flight Permit' from Norway CAA |author=Brian Garrett-Glaser |work=aviationtoday.com |date=2020-03-06 |access-date=2020-03-20 }}</ref>

On May 27, 2020, EHang obtained the world's first commercial pilot operation approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”) to use EHang 216 passenger-grade AAVs for air logistics purpose.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EHang {{!}} EHang Obtained World's First Commercial Pilot Operation Approval of Passenger-grade AAVs for Air Logistics Uses |url=https://www.ehang.com/news/649.html |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=www.ehang.com}}</ref> The EHang 216 received a special flight operations certificate (SFOC) from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) for test flights in Québec, Canada.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Ryan |url=https://evtol.com/news/ehang-216-quebec-flight-testing-approval/ |title=EHang receives approval from Transport Canada for flight testing in Quebec |date=2020-07-29 |work= eVTOL |access-date=2020-08-02 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117172744/https://evtol.com/news/ehang-216-quebec-flight-testing-approval/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>

=== Ehang 216-S ===

{{Aircraft specs | ref = Electric VTOL News<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/ehang-216-autonomous-aerial-vehicle/ |title=Ehang 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) |work= aerospace-technology.com |access-date=2019-08-17 }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> | prime units? = met | crew = Unpiloted | capacity = 2 passengers (260 kg) | length m = 5.61 | span m = | height m = 1.76 | empty weight kg = | gross weight kg = | max takeoff weight kg = | fuel capacity = | more general =  | eng1 number = 16 | eng1 name = | eng1 type = Electric | eng1 kw = | eng1 note = | power original = | prop blade number = 16 | prop name = | prop dia m =  | prop dia note = | rot number =  | rot dia m =  | rot area sqm =  | rot area note =  | max speed kmh = 130 | max speed mach =  | cruise speed kmh = 100 | stall speed kmh = | never exceed speed kmh = | never exceed speed note = | minimum control speed kmh = 70 | minimum control speed note = | range km = 35 | ferry range km = | endurance =  | ceiling m = | g limits =  | roll rate =  | glide ratio =  | climb rate ms = | time to altitude = | sink rate ms =  | lift to drag = | wing loading kg/m2 = | disk loading kg/m2 = | fuel consumption kg/km = | power/mass = | thrust/weight = | more performance = Uses 5G wireless connectivity to communicate. Maximum altitude: 9,843 ft (3,000 m).21-minute flight time. Charge time: ~2 hours. Payload: 485 lb (220 kg). | avionics = }}

==== Firefighting ====

The EHang 216F is a version designed for aerial firefighting, particularly in high-rise buildings. It has a maximum flight altitude of 600 meters and can carry up to 150 liters of fire extinguishing agent. Equipped with a camera, it can independently locate fires.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Ryan |url=https://www.aerialfiremag.com/ehang-launches-aerial-firefighting-solution/ |title= EHang Launches Aerial Firefighting Solution |date=2020-07-31 |work= AerialFIRE |access-date=2020-08-02 }}</ref>

The pilotless aircraft navigates preset routes using 5G wireless connectivity to communicate with the command center. It can reach an altitude of 9,843 feet (3,000 meters), and its onboard batteries provide a range of 22 miles (35 kilometers) or a flight time of 21 minutes per charge. Recharging is reported to take approximately 2 hours. The payload capacity is said to be 485 pounds (220 kilograms). Passengers enter through gull-wing doors, and the eVTOL features fixed landing gear.

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

== External links == * {{Official website}} * {{Finance links | name = EHang Holdings Limited | symbol = EH | yahoo = EH | bloomberg = EH:US | reuters = EH.N | sec_cik = EH | nasdaq = EH }}

Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of China Category:Aircraft manufacturers of China Category:Manufacturing companies based in Guangzhou Category:2010s Chinese civil utility aircraft Category:Electric aircraft Category:EVTOL aircraft Category:Electric helicopters Category:Prototypes Category:Urban air mobility Category:Unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers of China Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq Category:Chinese brands