Inside Lilium, the German company trying to revolutionize air travel
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Published 2024-04-12
“Revolutionize means make it absolutely zero emission,” Lilium CEO Klaus Roewe told CNBC Tech in an interview.
“We want to make a regional plane that has a decent transport capacity to have a meaningful effect on CO2 emission reduction.”
Less than a decade after being founded by four university students, the group is now one of Europe’s leading eVTOL companies. It made headlines in September 2022, when Lilium’s prototype performed a full transition from hover to wing-borne flight at a test facility in Spain. Lilium is targeting entry into service by 2026.
“There was a lot of efficiency gain made by the structure, by the systems, notably by the engines. However, you can see it’s now coming to a kind of plateau,” Roewe said.
“Getting another 20%-30% out, in terms of CO2 reduction, is very, very difficult. So, you have to make a leapfrog in terms of technologies.”
Lilium, which is backed by the likes of China’s Tencent and Earlybird Venture Capital, has started taking orders from the premium market. One jet will cost about $9 million.
The company is also developing a six-seater version, which will set a buyer back about $7 million.
The eVTOL space is fiercely competitive, with more than 400 companies and innovators registering designs on the World eVTOL Aircraft Directory.
However, Daniel Wiegand, a Lilium co-founder and chief engineer for innovation and future programs, said the company has an offering that is different from its rivals.
“Most of our peers are using propellers. These propellers have the advantage that they’re a bit simpler to design and they need less power in take-off and landing, but they’re less efficient in the cruise flight,” Wiegand said.
“We are focused on regional flights. We have picked the jet technology because it yields longer range.”
Watch the video above for CNBC Tech: The Edge’s tour of Lilium’s facilities in Weßling, Bavaria.
This video is a part of a four-part CNBC Tech series on eVTOLS. You can check out the other parts below:
• What are eVTOLS? The evolution of 'flying cars' explained - • eVTOLS: Why investors are betting bil...
• Inside Alef, the company trying to build a car you can both drive and fly - • Inside Alef, the company trying to bu...
• Inside Lilium, the German company trying to revolutionize air travel - • Inside Lilium, the German company try...
• Take a ride inside Ehang’s fully autonomous, two-seater air taxi - • Take a ride inside Ehang’s fully auto...
#CNBC #FlyingCar #Lilium #eVTOL
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All Comments (21)
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Thank you for watching. This video is a part of a four-part CNBC Tech series on eVTOLS. You can check out the other parts below: • What are eVTOLS? The evolution of 'flying cars' explained - https://youtu.be/7gLBJpnmAo8 • Inside Alef, the company trying to build a car you can both drive and fly - https://youtu.be/qtzuL3WSiGY • Take a ride inside Ehang’s fully autonomous, two-seater air taxi - https://youtu.be/XBCq6JGKqUg
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I really hope Lilium can commercialize before going bankrupt
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This is the most beautiful and inspired EVTOL craft I've seen. I truly want them to win.
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Proud Investor ❤🎉
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Aviation will be one of the last industries to fully electrify, but it will happen. The transition will start from the bottom with smaller short-haul aircraft and work its way up. Designing from scratch is way more optimal than converting existing aircraft. Lilium looks like they are doing awesome work. These kinds of companies are the future, and the future will be clean, sustainable, and less noisy.
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i would always worry when they move very quickly on from the propulsion details to emphasise the fact that you will be able to have a trim finish in whatever style you want.
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Great German engineering skills!
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1400 Million € and no flying, real size prototype in 9 years!
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Do a fully loaded test flight!
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Selling to the rich will never go out of fashion ✅
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Everybody should look at using a Tether cart to launch. Look what that might do for your overall operations if you were able to get off the ground and gain some speed before you went to full battery. If you wanna make a standard aircraft that isn’t EVTOL but electric that make carts to launch and land them so they don’t have to have any undercarriage. we also need to make portable landing zones so people like first responders can pull one out of the back of their vehicle. Set it in a clear spot and make sure the area stays clear communicating with the aircraft. LIDAR, Light, set light Internet connection in one package. We need the same thing around the world to make cheap landing zones that are safe.
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Here we see the "lift" design. Create low pressure on top of the wing, over a wide area. Having multiple engines makes for safety, and controlled variable performance.
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Great Video and very interesting Company! :)
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I’m enjoying following the lLillium journey. Like any new pioneer lots of head winds and pessimism, however I can see the vision.
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Turn the background music volume up, I can still hear the guys talking.
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i am an investor....pretty heavily...i would love to have a version for MSFS to fly virtual.....
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Omg I literally thought that was Thomas from the car channel for a while, they sound exactly alike! 2:45 😂
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First, great respect that Lilium refers to other companies as "peers" and not "competitors"! All for a cleaner, quieter, more exciting future!
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I’m really not sure about that pilot UI screen. As some who drives a new car with a similar screen that fails and turns off randomly I would prefer to see some analog tech for the pilot but maybe there’s a second set of controls.
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When others busy try to kill each other,,this team create new tech..
