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Are air taxis electric, and how do they charge?

By Air Taxi Landing

Most air taxis run on batteries. They charge from the power grid through a high-power charger at an airport or vertiport, and the industry hasn’t settled on one standard plug. Below is what the FAA and the companies say about each part. We read every source on October 26, 2026.

Last updated October 26, 2026.

Are air taxis electric?

Mostly, yes. The FAA says most early plans for advanced air mobility use electric propulsion, and its vertiport guidance covers battery aircraft only. Source: FAA Engineering Brief 105A, December 27, 2024.

Not every aircraft in the directory is all-electric. What is eVTOL? covers the hybrid designs, and Joby says it flew a hydrogen-electric demonstrator more than 500 miles in 2024. Company-stated. Source: Joby annual report (Form 10-K) for 2025.

Where do they charge?

On or near the landing site. The FAA says battery aircraft will need access to charging at or near an airport or vertiport. Airports with federal obligations must show charging stations on their airport layout plan, and a station at a public-use airport goes through the FAA’s airspace review. A station an airport sponsor builds should be open to all aircraft operators, not just one. Source: FAA, Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure, updated October 23, 2026. What is a vertiport? explains the landing sites themselves.

What does an air taxi charger look like?

BETA’s Charge Cube is the most detailed public example. BETA says it delivers 320 kilowatts, stands 4 feet tall so it fits under a wing, and has a 50-foot cord. Users authorize charging with a phone app or plug-and-charge. Company-stated. Source: BETA Charge Cube page, read October 26, 2026. BETA also sells a wheeled Mini Cube, at 40 or 65 kilowatts, for hangars and remote airstrips. Company-stated. Source: BETA, January 7, 2025.

Joby built its own system, GEACS. Joby says it charges several battery packs at once, conditions the batteries for fast charging, and moves data securely. In November 2023, it said the technology was already in use at its Marina, California test center and at Edwards Air Force Base. Company-stated. Sources: Joby, November 7, 2023; Joby annual report for 2025.

How long does charging take?

Few companies publish a time. BETA says a Charge Cube can fully charge its ALIA aircraft in under an hour, and lists an optimized time of 35 minutes with cooling. Company-stated. Sources: BETA, January 7, 2025; BETA Charge Cube page, read October 26, 2026.

Archer says Midnight is built for rapid back-to-back trips, but neither its page nor Joby’s technology page gives a recharge time. Treat any minute count you see elsewhere as unconfirmed. For how far one charge goes, see How far can an air taxi fly?

Is there one charging standard?

No. The FAA wrote in December 2024 that consensus hadn’t been reached on charging classes or connection standards. It said current electric car charging standards, up to 350 kilowatts, fit several light electric aircraft now seeking certification. Larger batteries may need mobile chargers, fixed battery storage, cooling, or battery swapping. It also lists SAE AIR7357, a megawatt-charging standard still under development. Source: FAA Engineering Brief 105A, December 27, 2024.

The companies split. BETA says its chargers use the Combined Charging Standard, backed by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Company-stated. Source: BETA, January 7, 2025. Joby says the industry hasn’t aligned on one standard, and that a vertiport using a different system could mean longer charge times for its aircraft. Company-stated. Source: Joby annual report for 2025.

Who is building the network?

On July 16, 2026, Archer, BETA, and Macquarie Capital announced a plan to electrify up to 250 air taxi sites across the U.S. over the next decade, including airports and vertiports in California, Texas, Florida, and New York. The chargers would be BETA’s, built on the Combined Charging Standard, and Archer would use them for passenger flights at peak hours. Archer and BETA are selected participants in the FAA’s eVTOL pilot program, and the plan prioritizes those markets. BETA says it’s deploying chargers at more than 100 sites in the U.S. and abroad. The 250 sites are a goal, not a built network. Company-stated. Source: Archer, July 16, 2026.

What does the FAA say about charging safety?

The FAA says battery charging must be done in a safe and secure manner, and any batteries stored on site belong well away from the landing area. It also says to weigh the grid impact of high-wattage stations, and to plan fire response for lithium battery incidents, since thermal runaway can spread to nearby aircraft or structures. Source: FAA Engineering Brief 105A, December 27, 2024. The FAA has a draft advisory circular on vertical flight infrastructure that would cancel the brief once final. Comments are due January 11, 2027. Source: FAA, updated October 23, 2026. Are air taxis safe? covers the wider safety rules.

What does this mean for a ride?

You won’t charge anything yourself. Charging happens on the ground between flights. Joby lists charging fees among the costs its future pricing depends on. Company-stated. Source: Joby annual report for 2025. How much will an air taxi ride cost? covers energy costs, and When will air taxis launch? covers when rides may start. Air taxi vs. helicopter compares the aircraft types.

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