AutoFlight Unveils Solar-Powered Floating Vertiport to Boost Air Taxi Industry
SHANGHAI, China — The burgeoning electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft sector, often hailed as the future of urban air mobility, faces a persistent challenge: the scarcity of landing infrastructure in dense metropolitan areas. Addressing this critical bottleneck, AutoFlight has introduced a groundbreaking zero-carbon floating vertiport that harnesses solar energy to charge eVTOLs while providing a mobile landing hub on waterways such as rivers, lakes, and coastal zones.
This innovative platform, demonstrated publicly on November 22 at Dianshan Lake near Shanghai, is built on a self-propelled barge outfitted with solar panels that generate clean energy, enabling the vertiport to operate independently from traditional power grids. The deck accommodates multiple eVTOLs simultaneously, including AutoFlight’s six-seat Prosperity passenger aircraft and the White Shark and CarryAll models designed for cargo and industrial applications. A compact cabin serves as both a departure lounge and technical control room, allowing operators to reposition the vertiport in response to shifting demand.
By eliminating the need for fixed, land-based infrastructure—which often requires lengthy construction and regulatory approval—AutoFlight’s floating vertiport offers unprecedented flexibility for cities aiming to integrate air taxis into their transportation networks. This approach revives a concept dating back to the mid-20th century when helicopter passenger services struggled due to limited landing sites. Unlike those early efforts, which created congestion at rooftops and piers, the mobile water platform can navigate to optimal locations, easing urban congestion and expanding operational reach.
During the demonstration, a 2-ton-class eVTOL successfully took off and landed on the solar-powered platform, while three aircraft flew in formation and conducted live airdrop missions delivering supplies and life rafts. These capabilities underscore the vertiport’s potential beyond passenger transport, including emergency response, low-altitude logistics, tourism, and maintenance of marine energy infrastructure.
Experts note that the vertiport’s reliance on renewable energy aligns with growing federal initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in transportation. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office supports innovations in electric mobility, while the Federal Aviation Administration’s Urban Air Mobility program is actively working to integrate eVTOLs safely into national airspace. Furthermore, the platform’s ability to support emergency missions complements efforts by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which increasingly relies on aerial assets for disaster response.
AutoFlight’s vertiport could also stimulate economic growth in sectors like tourism and marine energy maintenance by providing accessible landing sites in previously hard-to-reach locations. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics highlights the importance of multimodal transport solutions in enhancing connectivity and reducing travel times.
As eVTOL technology matures, the need for adaptable infrastructure becomes paramount. AutoFlight’s solar-powered floating vertiport represents a promising step toward overcoming one of the industry’s most significant hurdles, potentially accelerating the adoption of air taxis worldwide while advancing sustainability goals.
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