Professor Satya Chakravarthy of IIT Madras is developing electric flying aircraft through Chennai-based startup The ePlane Company, aiming to transform emergency medical transport and reduce travel time for critically ill patients.
Founded in 2019 with co-founder Pranjal Mehta, the company is developing its flagship e200X, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed for air ambulances, passenger transport and cargo operations. It targets a speed of around 160 km/h and a range of 110 km on a single charge.
The company plans to introduce air ambulance services before passenger flying taxis. Its proposed medical configuration will accommodate a pilot, patient and paramedic, along with essential medical equipment.
In 2025, the startup announced an agreement with ICATT for 788 electric air ambulances, reportedly valued at over $1 billion. It unveiled a full-scale aircraft prototype in 2026 and is targeting regulatory certification around 2028, followed by commercial operations subject to approvals and successful testing.