On February 5, 2026, Vertical Aerospace announced that it will be sourcing the electric propulsion unit for its new Valo eVTOL aircraft from UK-based Evolito.
Based in Oxfordshire, Evolito is a developer of advanced axial-flux electric motors and battery management systems. In 2021, it was spun off from YASA, a supplier of electrical systems to the automotive industry.
The company, which is backed by a number of private investors such as B-Flexion, Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) and HostPlus, has since carved for itself a niche in the emerging advanced air mobility industry. In addition to Vertical Aerospace, Evolito has also signed deals to provide propulsion systems to other startups in this space, including US-based Electra and French airship developer Flying Whales.
As per the terms of the recently signed agreement, Vertical Aerospace will collaborate with Evolito, which already holds CAA Design Organization Approval, on the process of certifying the Valo’s propulsion unit with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The two companies will also be pursuing a concurrent European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification, followed by those from other aviation regulators internationally.
In the press release announcing the deal, Vertical Aerospace highlighted that it had selected Evolito’s technology for such a key function due to its lightweight and efficient architecture and the high-integrity DAL-A (Design Assurance Level) of its power electronics, ensuring its reliability.
Vertical Aerospace is targeting 2028 for the certification and entry into service of the Valo aircraft, which encapsulates the latest iteration of its eVTOL technology, already designed for serial production and commercialization.
The announcement was welcomed by the UK’s Industry Minister, Chris McDonald, who underlined it as a partnership that will strengthen the British aerospace industry at a time when it is striving to be a world leader in new generation, clean aircraft technologies.
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