A new partnership aims to establish the charging infrastructure needed to support electric aviation across the United States. Archer Aviation, BETA Technologies and Macquarie Capital are combining aircraft technology, infrastructure expertise and investment resources to create a shared network. The effort highlights the growing importance of interoperability as advanced air mobility moves closer to commercial operations.
Archer Aviation, BETA Technologies and Macquarie Capital have launched America’s Consortium for Electric Skyways (ACES), a plan to deploy interoperable electric aviation charging infrastructure at more than 250 aviation sites across the United States over the next decade.
The consortium will focus on airports, vertiports and metropolitan areas where electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) operations are expected to develop, including markets in California, Texas, Florida and New York. BETA Technologies will provide charging systems built on the Combined Charging Standard (CCS), an open charging standard supported by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and widely adopted throughout the eVTOL industry.
Archer intends to use the network to support future passenger air taxi operations, while BETA customers will utilize the infrastructure for applications including cargo and medical transport. The shared charging model could also support airport ground vehicles and other electric aviation uses.
“The eVTOL Integration Pilot Program is about more than just getting electric aircraft flying in American cities,” said Dan Edwards, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation. “It’s about building the infrastructure ecosystem needed to support commercial operations.”
By creating a shared charging foundation, ACES aims to help shape the infrastructure needed for advanced aviation operations while allowing multiple aircraft manufacturers and operators to participate in a unified network.
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