Electric aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation, along with FBO chain and aviation infrastructure provider Atlantic Aviation, announced a plan to bring electric charging infrastructure to New York and Southern California in support of Joby’s future air taxi service.
Through this collaboration, Atlantic and Joby plan to install Joby’s Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS) at key Atlantic FBO locations in the New York and Los Angeles metro areas.
The companies will also be working to figure out how Joby’s air taxi can successfully operate in conjunction with traditional aircraft and other electric aircraft at these locations.
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, said, “Infrastructure is a critical piece of the puzzle and Atlantic’s presence in these two key U.S. markets will help ensure we’re well positioned to deliver a meaningful service for our customers. We’re excited to be working together to lay the foundation for the next generation of clean and quiet flight.”
“Through more than 30,000 miles of all-electric vertical flight with full-scale prototype aircraft,” Bevirt said. “Our team has fine-tuned a ground support system that allows for the simultaneous recharging of multiple battery packs, external coolant exchange, and secure data offload after flight—making it suitable for all electric aircraft.”
Joby’s GEACS are currently installed at Edwards Air Force Base and at Joby’s flight-testing facility in Marina, California. The chargers are designed to be platform-neutral, meaning that other electric aircraft will be able to utilize these charging stations. To make this possible, Joby has shared the technological specifications of GEACS so that other electric aircraft developers can design their aircraft with these systems in mind.
“Our collaboration with Joby is a key step in Atlantic’s push to bring existing aviation infrastructure into the future and solidify Atlantic’s leading role in supporting the growth of electric aviation. We will be a technology-agnostic supporter of advanced air mobility and our work with Joby is a key part of that journey,” said John Redcay, Atlantic Aviation's chief commercial and sustainability officer.
Joby recently completed what it calls the first-ever flight of an electric air taxi in New York City at an event put on by city leaders to announce their plan to electrify the Downtown Manhattan/Wall Street Heliport.