Archer Aviation and NASA to Collaborate on eVTOL Aircraft Technologies

 Archer Aviation Inc., a US developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, thas signed a collaboration agreement with NASA. It will kick off with an initial project focused on studying high-performance battery cells and safety testing targeted for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and space applications. 

NASA’s goal is to test Archer’s battery cell and system design and share the results to push the entire AAM industry forward. 

Archer plans to deliver a high-performing battery pack with leading levels of safety to its Midnight electric air taxi, validating that these cells are tailor made for aerospace applications.

NASA and Archer will focus on further testing the safety, energy and power performance capabilities of the battery cells.

The battery cell form factor chosen by Archer, a cylindrical cell, has a track record of safety, performance and scalability proven through decades of volume manufacturing, deployed across many applications globally, including in millions of electric vehicles (EVs).

It has chosen these cells to power the proprietary electric powertrain system Archer has designed, developed and is beginning to mass manufacture for its production electric air taxi, Midnight.

Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, says: “We’re extremely proud to partner with NASA, who has pioneered the eVTOL industry over the last 3+ decades, in support of our collective mission to ensure U.S. leadership in aerospace continues for decades to come. Many countries around the world are challenging the U.S. in this new era of flight and our country is at risk of losing its global leadership position unless we work together, government and industry, to ensure we seize the moment and pioneer this new era of aviation technology, which stands to benefit all Americans.”

Archer's team is based in Santa Clara, California.