ePlane partners with Dassault Systèmes to speed up electric air taxi development

Electric aircraft maker targets operational readiness in 3 years

Indian electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) startup, ePlane, has partnered with Dassault Systèmes to use its platform to fast-track design iterations, streamline certification with DGCA.

Dassault Systèmes, a French 3D design, engineering and digital simulation software company, has announced a partnership with ePlane, an Indian startup specialising in sustainable electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

In a press statement, the company says that the partnership will allow ePlane using Dassault Systèmes’ cloud-based 3DExperience platform, to rapidly carry out model-based system engineering and full digital simulations. These solutions accelerate aircraft design iterations, improve cross-disciplinary teamwork, and streamline complex engineering processes, ensuring higher safety, reliability, and faster time-to-market.

The statements adds that founded in 2019 by Satya Chakravarthy, ePlane aims to transform urban transportation with its all-electric, zero-emission e200x the world’s most compact eVTOL featuring an 8×10 metre footprint, 115 km range, and a pilot plus 200 kg payload. It is the first private Indian company to receive Design Organisation Approval from DGCA for 2-19 seater aircraft. The e200x’s Type Certification is progressing, with DGCA accepting the application in December 2024, targeting operational readiness by 2027-28.

“With Dassault Systèmes’ robust cloud and simulation technologies, our engineering team can validate designs faster and more efficiently, despite the inherent complexity of eVTOL geometries. Digital continuity across all phases of aircraft development significantly reduced engineering cycle times and de-risked critical certification milestones,” says Satya Chakravarthy, Founder & CTO, ePlane Company.

“ePlane’s work in urban air mobility demonstrates the transformative potential of digitalisation in aerospace. By leveraging Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience platform on the cloud, ePlane is accelerating innovation and achieving efficient, safe, and certifiable development of their ePlane e200 air taxi. We are glad to be the technology partner enabling their vision for zero-emission, accessible, and sustainable urban transportation in India and beyond,” says Deepak NG, India Managing Director, Dassault Systèmes.