FutureFlight Logo
USER MENU
The Future of Advanced Air Mobility
TCab Tech is developing a five-seat eVTOL aircraft called the E20. (Image: TCab Tech)

TCab Tech was founded in May 2021 by former executives from two other eVTOL developers, Terrafugia (a subsidiary of Chinese automotive group Geely) and Autoflight. The start-up was launched with around $10 million in seed funding from investors including Decent Capital (launched by Tencent co-founder Jason Zeng) and BlueRun Ventures. TCab Tech, which says its company name stands for "Time Taxi," aims to complete type certification with the Civil Aviation Administration of China in 2025. It also aims to achieve European certification with EASA.

Timeline

type certification granted

TCab Tech aims to complete Chinese type certification by the end of 2025.

Outlook

Our objective assessment of this program’s probable success.

FutureFlight assesses the probability of success for a new aircraft program by considering the following criteria:

  • Total investment funds available in proportion to the anticipated cost of getting an aircraft certified and in service
  • A company’s in-house capability (in terms of numbers of engineers, technical staff, and customer support teams)
  • The past experience of the company and its senior leadership in developing aircraft
  • The caliber and past experience of key program partners
  • Whether key aircraft systems have been selected and are available for use
  • Whether the preliminary design review has been completed
  • Whether the design for the full-scale prototype has been completed
  • Whether the type certification process has been formally initiated with an appropriate regulator
  • Whether the company has achieved a first flight with a full-scale prototype
  • The number of hours logged in a flight test program
  • Whether type certification has been achieved
  • The number of orders and commitment received for the aircraft
  • Whether the company has adequate facilities to begin series production of the aircraft
Our Methodology

TCab Tech was founded by four executives with experience of other eVTOL start-ups, and has been advancing its program with $10 million in seed funding since May 2021. Its May 2022 announcement that French aircraft engines group Safran will supply electric motors for the lift-and-cruise model's six rotors was a boost to its plans. However, the company has not published any timeline for achieving Chinese type certification in 2025 and it is unclear how advanced the design and engineering plans may be. The company will certainly require significant further funding, and to achieve that will need to be more transparent about its capabilities and business plan, which seems to be focused on aerial ridesharing services.

E20 Models

E20 Specifications

local vtol Lift + Cruise
Imperial/Metric

Performance

  • Passenger Capacity
    4
  • Range
    124 mi
  • Cruise Speed
    162 mph
  • Powerplant Type
    multi rotor
  • Power Source
    electric
  • Endurance
    n/a
  • Max Altitude
    n/a
  • Takeoff Distance
    n/a
  • Landing Distance
    n/a
  • Empty Weight
    n/a
  • MGTOW
    n/a
  • Payload Weight
    990 lb

Dimensions

  • Length
    n/a
  • Width
    n/a
  • Height
    n/a
  • Wingspan
    n/a

The E20 is a five-seat eVTOL aircraft being developed by Chinese start-up TCab Tech. A design concept released in May 2022 shows two pairs of tilting rotors fitted to the ends of a main wing and a T-shaped tail section. The aircraft also has two fixed lift rotors on a beam extending forward from the wing, and these are intended to be stowed away during cruise flight.

Each of these rotors will be powered by a one of Safran's 100 kW EngineUs 100 motor, for which the engine maker aims to complete type certification in 2023. Safran will also provide an air-cooled thermal management system.

TCab Tech says the aircraft is mainly intended for aerial ridesharing services.

Investors

Total Amount Invested: $10m
  • Sep 13, 2021/$10m

TCab Tech's $10 million seed funding round was backed by BlueRun Ventures and Decent Capital.

Key Personnel

Yon Wui Ng is co-founder and CEO of TCab Tech.
Yon Wui Ng

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)