Embraer’s Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions and Widerøe Zero have signed an MOU to collaborate for air mobility and eVTOL operations in Scandanavia. The parent companies know each other well, as Widerøe is a customer for the latest fuel efficient Embraer E190-E2 jets.
Widerøe, which services the fjords in Northern Norway using 26 older DeHavilland Dash-8-100 and -200 aircraft, is looking to replace them by 2026. While certainly not an urban setting that is more typical for Eve, the unique requirements for smaller aircraft carrying passengers and cargo to more remote destinations has enabled the companies to collaborate for air mobility in a unique environment.
As they collaborate for air mobility, the companies will use Eve’s zero-emission and low noise footprint eVTOL vehicle to develop a new concept of operation where passengers will experience the future of electric transportation and a new model of sustainable mobility, connecting people living in a sparsely populated region and challenging geography.
“Widerøe Zero is excited to work with Eve on the eVTOL concept. Although initially designed for Urban Air Mobility, we expect these highly flexible vehicles to be interesting in a variety of applications also in rural areas; from cargo to passenger transportation. Our partnership with Eve is part of our plan to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation in Norway. We are looking forward to the expanded partnership, unlocking new opportunities to improve regional connectivity,” said Andreas Kollbye Aks, Chief Executive Officer at Widerøe Zero.
“In order to contribute to the world target to eliminate greenhouse gas emission by 2050, the aerospace industry depends on disruptive innovation. With Urban Air Mobility, we have a unique opportunity to design a new and optimized mobility ecosystem: infrastructure, vehicle, operations and air traffic management systems” said André Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eve. “We are thrilled to work together with Widerøe Zero to develop UAM solutions in Scandinavia, with an entirely new, zero-emission, experience to travelers.”
With Norway as one of the leaders in the electrification of transportation, a joint project to collaborate on air mobility between parties that already know each other makes sense. Replacing older turboprops with eVTOL aircraft by 2026 is ambitious given the unique weather and cold temperatures in northern Norway, but an ideal laboratory in which to evaluate operations under difficult conditions. If Eve works in this environment, it should work anywhere.
