India To Get Vertical Take-Off Air Ambulance Service As IIT Madras Electric Aircraft Startup Signs $1 Billion Deal

India is set to become one of the few countries worldwide to launch a terrestrial vertical take-off and landing air ambulance service. A deal exceeding $1 billion has been confirmed for this purpose, NDTV reported.

According to the agreement, ePlane Company, an electric aircraft startup based in IIT-Madras, will provide 788 air ambulances. ICATT, the premier air ambulance company in India, will receive 788 eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) air ambulances. These aircraft will subsequently be distributed throughout every district in the country.

The non-binding agreement holds importance as towns and cities in India struggle with the constant rise in vehicular traffic. eVTOLs, being electric vehicles, will initially offer crucial services such as aiding in medical emergencies. Moreover, they will contribute to the environment by not causing any negative impacts.

The eVTOL market in India has garnered significant interest in recent times. The government is also considering relaxing airspace restrictions to a certain degree to enable transportation and delivery services via eVTOLs and drones.

Archer Aviation, Sarla Aviation, and ePlane Company are among the top startups in India focusing on eVTOL aircraft. Additionally, app-based taxi companies such as Uber are in the process of developing and testing prototypes for air taxi services. This innovation could provide an alternative for commuters in large cities, enabling them to bypass traffic congestion.

In an interview with Reuters, Satya Chakravarthy, the founder of ePlane Company, stated that the company is planning to commence operations for crucial services such as air ambulances by the final quarter of 2026. He further noted that the company would have an annual production capacity of 100 units.

Chakravarthy, a professor at IIT-Madras, is the founder of the startup ePlane Company, which was incubated at the same institution. He has already secured a billion-dollar deal for air ambulances and is now in the process of seeking an additional $100 million.

This funding will be used to manufacture and test prototypes of other kinds of eVTOL aircraft and to secure the necessary certification. To date, the company has successfully attracted $20 million in investment.

ePlane Company is currently developing three distinct air ambulance prototypes, each tailored to the needs of various geographical areas and population densities.

These aircraft are designed to house a pilot, a paramedic, a patient, a stretcher, and crucial life-saving medical equipment and supplies. The air ambulances are projected to reach a maximum speed of 200 kmph, with a battery charge range extending from 110 to 200 kilometers.

"We can ramp up our production and put things into the market to good use much more effectively with an air ambulance than directly going to an air taxi," Chakravarthy said adding that "It's possible for us to ramp up air ambulances a lot more organically, compared to having to go to a rush with an air taxi."