Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) has entered into a Space Act Agreement with NASA to propel the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft technologies, with a specific focus on high-performance battery cells and safety testing for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications.

Elevating AAM Through Cutting-edge Battery Technology

The collaboration between Archer and NASA targets the advancement of battery technology crucial for the AAM sector. While electric vehicle supply chains are maturing, the electric aircraft supply chain remains nascent. The partnership seeks to accelerate progress by subjecting Archer’s battery cell and system design to rigorous testing, with NASA sharing the results to benefit the broader AAM industry.

Archer aims to deliver a high-performing battery pack with top-tier safety standards, specifically tailored for its Midnight electric air taxi. The collaborative efforts focus on validating that these cells are optimized for aerospace applications, including eVTOL aircraft, and have the potential for space usage.

The collaborative efforts will involve in-depth testing of safety, energy, and power performance capabilities of the battery cells. The chosen cylindrical cell form factor, proven in millions of electric vehicles globally, will power Archer’s proprietary electric powertrain system for the Midnight air taxi.