Mahindra hails IIT-Madras startup for developing electric flying taxis

Anand Mahindra was thoroughly impressed with an IIT Madras startup ePlane.

ePlane, a Chennai-based startup founded by aeronautics professor Sathya Chakravarthy, is developing electric flying taxis for 10x faster urban commutes.

Elated, Mahindra took to X to share his excitement as the startup plans to reveal the first vehicle in 2025.

“The eplane company. A company being incubated at IIT Madras to build a flying electric taxi by sometime next year…”: Mahindra wrote on X.

He also praised IIT Madras for producing innovative students.

“IIT Madras has become one of the WORLD’s most exciting and active incubators”: Mahindra added.

The Mumbai-based billionaire also praised the institution’s tech innovation culture.

“Thanks to them and the rapidly growing number of ambitious incubators throughout India, we’re no longer seen as a country that lacks genuine innovators…Audacious aspirations matter. Accept no limits”: Mahindra shared.

The eplane company.

A company being incubated at IIT Madras to build a flying electric taxi by sometime next year…

IIT Madras has become one of the WORLD’s most exciting and active incubators.

Thanks to them and the rapidly growing number of ambitious incubators throughout… pic.twitter.com/Ijb9Rd2MAH

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) May 10, 2024

ePlane’s Vision:

The IIT-Madras startup wants to make flying sustainable and available to all. 

“In essence, to make flying ubiquitous”: said the company’s official site.

The startup has firepower innovators as investors like Angel List co-founder Naval Ravikant and EasyMyTrip co-founder Prashant Pitti.

ePlane’s Passenger Plane:

Its e200 drone will be able to fly within a range of 500 to 1,500 meters (1,500-4,000 feet). The ePlane Company's other drones will not fly higher than 400 feet, in alignment with the Drone Rules, 2021, and the government's "green zones" policies.

Speaking about the range, Prof Chakravarthy stated that a single charge could cover a distance of about 200 km in the foreseeable future. This range will be consistent across all aircraft sizes, as larger aircraft require more batteries, and adding more batteries does not offer any advantages. 

Currently, the startup is working on two more prototypes. The first is the e50, which is a miniature version of the e200 and was developed to showcase the larger aircraft's capabilities. The e50 has a footprint of 3x3 meters and a range of 200 km, and it made its public debut at this year's Aero India.