Page 29 - Green Builder Magazine Jul-Aug 2021

“The goal is to have a jet

available commercially by

2024 and operating in
3 million multiple regions worldwide by

2025. At least 1,000 planes
tons are expected to be in

CO2 reduction potential of operation by 2027.”
Lilium craft by 2030

The company isn’t disclosing many details about the store parking lot. The site’s small size, made possible by
plane’s power source, 72 ultra-fast charging batteries the plane’s vertical takeoff and landing capability, further
mounted in pairs with each engine, other than that they reduces its environmental impact, and makes it possible for
represent an upgrade of existing technology. Analysts say the jet to land in the inner city, according to Lilium Chief
that’s a mandatory action, given that getting a Lilium Jet off Technology Officer Alastair McIntosh. The company has
the ground takes almost as much energy as that generated announced plans to build networks of vertiports across
by a Boeing 787’s fuel-driven engines. But once it’s in flight, Central and South Florida, as well as in Bavaria, and North
that power need drops to a mere 10 percent of the batteries’ Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
energy production. In either case, you’re looking at a clean “We dream of a world where anyone can fly wherever they
air flight, Lilium executives note. want, whenever they want,” Wiegand notes. “We’ve invested
Lilium’s goal is to have its jet available commercially by a tremendous amount of thought and care into designing an
2024 and operating in multiple regions worldwide by 2025. aircraft and a service that will let us deliver this, meeting
At least 1,000 planes are expected to be in operation by 2027; society’s demands for urban air travel that is quiet, safe and
the company anticipates profitability by 2026. environmentally positive. Now, we can focus on bringing our
Accompanying aircraft development will be creation of a vision to life and connecting communities in ways they have
vertiport, a landing pad that is about the size of a grocery never been connected before.” 2021 ECO-LEADERS

Clearing the airway. The Lilium Jet’s size and vertical liftoff capability enable the use of vertiports, small landing sites that can be built near
shopping centers, on top of hotels or hospitals, and in rural areas. COURTESY OF LILIUM

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