June 2025
The “low-altitude” economy is taking off
A blend of a helicopter and drone, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) is propelling the low-altitude economy forward.
Key takeaways
- The "low-altitude" economy refers to the emerging economic sector centered around activities, businesses, and services conducted in the airspace below 3,280 feet above the ground. It's growing largely due to the rise in electric vehicle take-off and landing (eVTOL), and, according to BofA Global Research, the global civil adoption of eVTOL could grow by 62% in 2025-30E.
- Somewhere between a helicopter and a drone, eVTOL has higher safety; is more environmentally friendly; creates less noise; and has a lower selling price than that of a helicopter, according to BofA Global Research. An eVTOL typically consists of five major systems: power, avionics, structural, energy and thermal management, and assembly parts.
- According to BofA Global Research, there are six end-applications for eVTOLs, namely public security, logistics distribution, medical & fire fighting, tourism, urban commuting, and intercity/intracity transportation.
Read our full analysis for a more in-depth look at these trends.
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