Liebherr-Aerospace to supply electro-mechanic actuators to Eve Air Mobility

Actuators developed and manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace will be integrated into the Eve Air Mobility electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for actuation of its aileron, elevator, and rudder surfaces. The lightweight actuators come with a fully integrated control and power electronics module, which makes them more compact and easier to install than competing actuators.

“As a longtime partner of Embraer, Eve´s engineering backbone, in many successful development projects, Liebherr has strong confidence in Eve´s capability to develop, certify, and produce such revolutionary eVTOL. This contract is a historic milestone and represents the beginning of a new relationship with Eve Air Mobility. It signifies our commitment to excellence that we continuously demonstrate towards our customers. We have listened to Eve´s requirements for these actuators since the early stages of development and have met their requirements in every step of the research and development phases. Our electric technology, specifically fly-by-wire actuators, improve the maintainability, reliability, and maneuverability of future aircraft,” explained Dr. Klaus Schneider, Chief Technology Officer of Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS.

Eve has already received orders for close to 3,000 vehicles and is working with several operators, infrastructure companies, and government agencies to create an operating environment for urban air mobility.

The development and production of the units will be performed by Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH, Lindenberg (Germany), Liebherr´s center of excellence for flight controls, actuation, gears, gearboxes, and landing gears, in close cooperation with Liebherr-Electronics and Drives GmbH, Lindau (Germany) as well as with Liebherr-Aerospace’s on-site team at two facilities in Brazil, São José dos Campos and Gavião Peixoto.

Additional suppliers named
Eve Air Mobility officials also named Garmin as the avionics supplier for the aircraft while Intergalactic will provide the thermal management system.

Garmin will supply the G3000 Integrated Flight Deck for Eve’s eVTOL which features large-format, light weight, high-resolution glass displays integrating with Eve’s vehicle management and flight control systems.

Intergalactic will provide the thermal management system which will maintain an optimal temperature range for equipment including batteries and other electronic components. The system will also help ensure a comfortable temperature inside the aircraft cabin.

“We are looking forward to working with each of our suppliers as we progress with our eVTOL development,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility. “Each of our suppliers undergoes a very stringent review that evaluates not only performance and quality of their product, but also their dedication to continuous improvement and customer support and satisfaction. We are looking forward to a long-term working relationship with each of our suppliers.”

The three new suppliers are in addition to three that were announced at the Paris Air Show this past summer. Nidec Aerospace LLC, a joint venture between Japan’s Nidec Corporation and Brazil’s Embraer, will provide the electric propulsion system for Eve’s eVTOL while BAE Systems will supply the energy storage system. DUC Hélices Propellers will provide the rotors and propellers.

Eve’s eVTOL aircraft uses a lift+cruise configuration with eight dedicated propellers for vertical flight and fixed wings to fly on cruise, with no change in the position of these components during flight. The latest concept includes an electric pusher powered by dual electric motors that provide propulsion redundancy while ensuring high performance and safety. While offering numerous advantages including lower cost of operation, fewer parts, optimized structures and systems, it has been developed to offer efficient thrust with low sound.

In July, the company announced that its first eVTOL production facility will be located in the city of Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The company has begun assembly of its first full-scale eVTOL prototype which will be followed by a test campaign in 2024. Eve’s eVTOL is scheduled to begin deliveries and enter into service in 2026.

Concurrently, Eve continues to develop a comprehensive portfolio of agnostic service and operations solutions, including a unique Urban Air Traffic Management (Urban ATM) software to optimize and scale Urban Air Mobility operations worldwide.