FutureFlight
U.S. Struggles with Sustainable Lithium-ion Battery Supply Chain
Demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to skyrocket in the coming decade as new electric aircraft fleets take to the skies. Will the U.S. be ready?
Archer's Midnight eVTOL air taxi is pictured on the tarmac at an airport.
Archer's four-seat Midnight eVTOL aircraft is one of several electric air taxis expected to begin flying passengers in 2025. (Photo: Archer Aviation)

Electric aircraft developers promise to revolutionize the aviation industry by replacing gas-guzzling turbine engines with more environmentally friendly, battery-powered propulsion systems that produce zero emissions while boasting significantly lower operating costs. 

While a handful of companies like Eviation are working to build and certify electric commuter airplanes, other companies like Joby and Archer plan to introduce electric fleets consisting of thousands of much smaller aircraft that can take off and land vertically, known as eVTOL aircraft. Those eVTOL aircraft, which are scheduled to begin operations as early as 2025, can carry groups of four to six people or cargo payloads on short flights of a couple hundred miles, allowing passengers to fly over traffic jams in urban settings and reach their destinations in record time.