CATL, the global battery giant, and eVTOL innovator AutoFlight have jointly launched a pathbreaking sea–air electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) system, marking a major leap in multi-modal, zero-emission mobility. Their new platform pairs aviation-grade battery technology with cutting-edge aircraft, enabling seamless operations across air and water.
At the heart of this system is an eVTOL aircraft capable of both flying and travelling over water — taking off and landing on water bodies. This flexibility opens up practical applications in regions with poor ground infrastructure, such as remote islands, coastal zones, and other hard-to-reach areas.
One of the most novel elements of the collaboration is a “zero-carbon water vertiport”: a floating, fully electric platform that serves as both a landing pad for eVTOLs and a hub for charging. This vertiport uses solar panels for energy, and integrates advanced dispatch, communication, and energy storage systems, making it deployable quickly without the need for land-based infrastructure.
On the aircraft front, the sea–air eVTOLs are engineered to work with AutoFlight’s proven models like the 2-ton cargo craft CarryAll, the passenger Prosperity, and even the industrial-grade White Shark. Combined with CATL’s high-energy-density, aviation-grade battery cells, the system offers better range, safety, and operational flexibility compared to air-only electric aircraft.
The companies say this innovation could be especially transformative across five key areas: supporting offshore energy platforms; enabling faster emergency response; making high-frequency commuting between islands or coastal clusters viable; boosting marine-aerial tourism; and building clusters of mobile water vertiports. By tapping into waterways, the system sidesteps the challenge of finding land for infrastructure and accelerates the rollout of sustainable mobility.
Looking ahead, CATL and AutoFlight plan to scale this sea–air ecosystem globally. They are pushing for regulatory approvals and pilot programs across Asia, Europe, and other markets, aiming to bring multi-terrain, carbon-neutral transport into real-world deployment soon.
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