In a landmark moment for the aviation industry, the world’s first electric passenger plane landed at New York’s JFK Airport, completing a milestone test flight that signals a bold step forward for eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft and urban air mobility as a whole.
As eVTOL technology moves from futuristic concept to practical reality, one thing becomes clear: batteries are at the center of everything. And those batteries? They have to be proven safe, powerful, and consistent—long before they ever leave the ground.
That’s where Associated Environmental Systems battery test chambers come in.
The eVTOL industry presents battery developers with one of the most demanding engineering challenges to date. Unlike traditional aircraft or electric vehicles, eVTOLs must support vertical takeoff and landing, repeated flight cycles, and extended run times—all while operating on electric power alone. That means batteries must deliver extremely high bursts of power during takeoff, maintain consistent output throughout flight, and recharge rapidly to support quick turnaround times.
These pressures make reliability and safety non-negotiable. That’s why every cell, module, and pack must be tested in conditions that simulate the real-world extremes eVTOL aircraft will face. From harsh mid air conditions to rapid charge/discharge cycling, battery testing in the eVTOL space must go far beyond standard validation. It’s about proving performance, ensuring safety, and building trust in technology that’s designed to take to the skies.
At AES, we build battery test chambers specifically engineered for the unique needs of aerospace and eVTOL industries. Our chambers replicate extreme environments—temperature swings, humidity, thermal stress—and integrate seamlessly with battery cyclers and safety systems.
Each test chamber is built for precision and safety, including:
Aviation and aerospace industries must adhere to strict performance and durability standards. AES chambers help meet those needs, and more.
We’ve seen firsthand how the right test chamber setup can accelerate development in the eVTOL space. In one recent setup for an eVTOL customer testing 600-amp cells, AES provided a chamber and battery test fixture set up that balanced power, safety, and scalability.
AES’s Cassette battery testing system is purpose-built for high-current, high-density testing in large-volume environmental chambers, the Cassette was engineered with electric vehicle and eVTOL applications in mind. These industries rely on large-format cells that hold significant energy—and demand rigorous, repeatable testing protocols to ensure safety and performance at scale.
Each Cassette supports two independent channels and features a fixed-shelf, removable-cassette design, allowing operators to quickly swap out full cassettes without adjusting or accessing the entire test shelf. A simple ejector latch at the base makes cell replacement faster and more ergonomic, minimizing handling errors and improving operator safety.
Together, AES chambers and fixtures help battery developers in the eVTOL space test more efficiently and with more confidence.
The electric passenger flight to JFK marks a major leap in aviation history. But moments like this are built on years of behind-the-scenes testing—inside chambers like the ones AES builds every day.
As the eVTOL industry continues to grow, battery validation will be the difference between concept and certification. With over 65 years of experience, AES delivers the chambers and fixtures that move innovation forward—safely and reliably.