Vertical Aerospace, an eVTOL developer, has joined BETA Technologies, Archer Aviation, and many of its Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) peers in adopting the Combined Charging Standard (CCS). The universal, fast-charging system for eVTOLs will help lower costs, simplify infrastructure, and accelerate eVTOL deployment.
The announcement marks a major step towards a global, industry-wide charging infrastructure and seamless integration for manufacturers, operators, and infrastructure providers. Stuart Simpson, Vertical Aerospace’s CEO, emphasised that standardising charging infrastructure is a crucial step in making electric aviation commercially viable.
“With certification efforts with five aviation authorities and customers across four continents, Vertical, together with BETA and Archer, choosing this standard means the industry has decided. By adopting CCSs, we’re ensuring that VX4 can integrate seamlessly into a shared charging network, which is great news for our customers and reinforces our commitment to delivering a scalable eVTOL ecosystem.”
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), which has endorsed the CCS, has been calling for standardised charging systems, which it says are “essential for scaling and commercialising electric aviation.”
A game changer for AAM, CCS paves the way for streamlined interoperability, faster charging times and more efficient operations, enabling eVTOLs to operate and scale safely and reliably around the world.
David Dunning, Director of Global Innovation and Policy at GAMA, underlined that a “unified charging standard is important as it would assist in reducing costs and accelerating the adoption of electric aircraft, which benefits manufacturers, operators, infrastructure operators and passengers alike.”
Image: Vertical Aerospace
