The new 46-series batteries are installed in the EH216 drone. ‘Such batteries are already used in electric cars and are now being used in flying vehicles. The drone will be able to fly longer without recharging and withstand difficult conditions. For megacities, this opens up new transportation options.
The Chinese EH216 flying taxi from Ehang will be able to stay in the sky longer and move faster thanks to new batteries from Gotion. The model is equipped with a power system with 46-series cylindrical elements, which allows the drone to operate at full capacity.
The EH216-S is an unmanned dual-role aircraft with automatic control. It reaches speeds of up to 130 km/h and up to 100 km/h in cruising mode. It can fly at an altitude of up to 3,000 m, and the average flight range is about 35 km with about 21 minutes in the air. The drone has 16 motors and propellers, can withstand a load of up to 220 kg and weighs about 360 kg, not counting the weight of fuel and passengers.
It is important that the upgraded battery will significantly improve all key indicators. In particular, it will increase the range, increase the power and enhance safety, including protection against overheating and failures.
The partnership between Gotion and Ehang began in December 2023, when they began working together on cells, modules, energy storage systems, and chargers. Now the engineers have moved on to integration. Batteries will enter mass production very soon.
Ehang has previously experimented with other types of batteries. In November 2023, the EH216-S with a solid-state battery completed a record-breaking uninterrupted flight of 48 min 10 sec — almost twice as long as a conventional battery. With an energy density of about 480 Wh/kg, this battery has improved heat resistance and a reduced risk of fire. Mass production of such cells is expected by the end of 2025.
For Gotion, entering the aviation industry, where the requirements for batteries are higher than those of electric vehicles, is a real challenge. Since the beginning of this year, the company has already manufactured these devices with a total capacity of 10.6 GWh, which puts it in the top 6 global manufacturers.
Ehang is releasing the EH216‑S as a commercial project. In China, it costs about 2.39 million yuan (approximately ₽26,000). The drone has large windows and a comfortable cabin for two, its body is made of carbon fiber, and the chassis is made of durable fixed skis. Recharging takes about two hours.
Such air transport can be used for short urban flights, emergency cargo delivery or inspections – in situations where roads are congested and the destination needs to be reached quickly. The more robust and capacious the equipment is, the faster it will become part of everyday life in megacities. The new batteries from Gotion will speed up this transition.