The ultimate autonomous cargo eVTOL with dramatic range, economics, payload, and reliability.

The Nuuva V300 is a revolutionary long-range large-capacity heavy-weight autonomous eVTOL UAV* for logistics and aerial cargo delivery. It operates 10x more economically than today’s helicopters, requires no runways, and brings enhanced safety and reliability using Pipistrel’s type-certified electric engines.

Pipistrel’s push into the eVTOL air cargo market comes on the back of the experience gained on the company’s sister 801 eVTOL project. In contrast with urban air mobility intended for personnel transportation, where the regulatory framework has shifted the time of implementation of commercial utilization of air-taxi eVTOLs, we believe the air cargo market is ripe for disruption with highly efficient and economical vehicles, such as the Nuuva V300 right now.

* electric vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle

The smaller sibling of the Nuuva family, the V20, shares the same architecture and advantages of the larger V300 but is designed as a lightweight cargo courier carrying payloads of up to 20 kg.

The nose section of the fuselage lifts leaving a large opening for cargo loading. Up to 3 Euro-pallets (EPAL) can be easily loaded using a forklift, but other types of containers also fit in. Custom adaptations can be made upon request. The freight is fastened and secured by means of restraint nets or straps, with hatches on the side of the fuselage to assure the load is correctly tied-down.

The dispatch is simple, and the flight plan is preloaded at the ground station before the take-off. After lift-off, the Nuuva V300 flies fully autonomously, controlled by a highly reliable, triple-redundant Flight Control System provided by Honeywell. Continuous communication allows the ground operator, who manages the vehicle with simple mouse-clicks, to have ultimate control in case of changes or cancellation of the flight.

Nuuva V300’s batteries can be charged by simply plugging-in to a SkyChargeTM by Pipistrel and Green Motion charging station.

The Nuuva V300 features a hybrid-electric powertrain with dedicated lift+cruise propulsion systems.

The Nuuva V300 takes-off and lands using eight independent battery-powered Pipistrel E-811 electric engines, already Type Certified. This revolutionary zero-emission powertrain is entirely liquid-cooled, including the batteries, and has demonstrated the ability to withstand faults, battery thermal runaway events, and crash loads as part of the EASA certification process. The whole system is safeguarded by the integrated health self-monitoring system that alerts of potential malfunctions even before they occur, increasing the reliability and safety.

A dependable and proven cruise engine is installed in the aft fuselage and powers the aircraft to its destination, offering unbeatable fuel economy and low maintenance costs. Aerodynamics are enhanced by the unique tandem-wing configuration with fly-by-wire control surfaces, which not only boosts efficiency but also reduces the landing footprint of the vehicle and assures a wide center-of-gravity margin.

While the Nuuva V300 is optimized for delivering a 300-kg payload to destinations more than 300 km away, it offers advantageous flexibility of operation. For operators that prioritize longer range, the vehicle’s payload capacity and anti-ice capabilities can be traded-off for more usable fuel, therefore being able to transport 50-kg payload for as far as 2,500 km – this all without compromising the ability to take-off and land vertically from altitudes as high as 8,000 ft. At lower take-off altitudes and with shorter mission requirements, the payload can be increased to up to 460 kg, beating the coveted 1,000 lb threshold.

Currently, precious cargo is delivered to many locations around the world with the use of helicopters, which although excellent for hovering, become much less efficient in cruise flight, as they rely solely on their rotor(s) to provide the necessary lift. The complex flight mechanics of such rotor systems also results in a high number of moving parts, which in turn, require frequent maintenance and inspection, further increasing the costs of operation.

The Nuuva V300 combines the best of both aeroplane and helicopter air cargo transportation principles. The unmanned eVTOL capability enables it to go where no aeroplane is able to, while operating at a fraction of the cost of a helicopter on an equivalent mission. Nuuva V300, with its efficiency and autonomy, is targeting to deliver a 10x improvement in economics to the operator.