Archer Aviation (Archer), a leader in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and E-One Moli Energy Corp. (Molicel), an industry-leading supplier of lithium-ion battery cells, have entered into a memorandum of understanding for Molicel to manufacture and supply the battery cells for Archer’s production eVTOL aircraft, Midnight.
Archer is focused on building an aircraft tailored to the needs of intra-city travel, optimising its Midnight aircraft to perform back-to-back short distance flights of about 20 miles with approximately ten-minute charging cycles in-between. Batteries are an important consideration in achieving Midnight’s desired payload, range and charging time. The ability to operate eVTOL aircraft in dense, urban environments requires state-of-the-art, reliable battery cells that can deliver high-power, low-impedance and fast-charging capabilities.
Molicel’s advanced battery technology and fast-growing production capacity make them an ideal partner for Archer as it continues on its ramp- to commercialisation. Last year, Molicel announced plans to establish its first Gigafactory in Taiwan, which is scheduled to ramp up production in 2023. The facility will have the capacity to produce 1.8 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery capacity annually.
Molicel’s high-performance cells also offer a significant cycle life when utilised in Archer’s battery pack and, as a result, reduce the long-term operating cost for its Midnight production aircraft. Partnering with a world-class battery supplier that can reliably manufacture cells at scale, allows Archer to reduce its certification risk, as well as its development timelines and costs.
