Toray, Joby Aviation finalize long-term carbon fiber supply agreement

Toray Advanced Composites (Morgan Hill, Calif., U.S.) announced Dec. 8 that it has completed a long-term supply agreement with Joby Aviation (Santa Cruz, Calif., U.S.) to supply Joby’s as-yet unnamed piloted helicopter eVTOL for air taxi transport (depicted above) with its carbon fiber composite materials.

According to Toray, because every aspect of Joby’s electric aircraft requires range and speed maximazation to achieve its urban transport capabilities,  high-strength and lightweight materials are crucial. For this reason, Toray suggests that its high-quality carbon fiber materials are a key component of achieving these goals. Further, Joby selected Toray Advanced Composite materials for their proven history of meeting mechanical and safety requirements in aerospace and high-performance automotive applications.

“Toray’s prepreg carbon fiber systems provide unparalleled specific strength and toughness, which have enabled Joby to develop aircraft with unprecedented capabilities,” says JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation. “We are proud to be working with Toray as we certify this aircraft, and look forward to building a long-lasting partnership."

Joby will operate an affordable, quiet and clean transportation service, using the revolutionary all-electric, eVTOL aircraft it has spent the last decade developing (see “Composite aerostructures in the emerging urban air mobility market”). With a range of up to 150 miles and a top speed of 200 miles per hour, the vehicle and the service has the potential to make a significant difference to the lives of travelers. Carbon fiber materials are used throughout the vehicle structure, propulsion systems, and interior components.

“We are pleased to have finalized this important supply agreement with Joby Aviation, a pioneer in the development of the eVTOL,” says Mr. Toshiyuki Kondo, CEO, Toray Advanced Composites. “As children, we dreamed of being able to fly to a destination in a fraction of the time it would take to drive. That is no longer a fantasy. The electric air taxi is becoming a reality and we at Toray are perfectly positioned to meet the industry’s needs today and in the future. It’s a very exciting time.”

Joby Aviation adds that it has spent more than a decade developing its aircraft and plans to bring it into commercial operation as early as 2023. By combining years of development with its world-class team, and now a leading carbon fiber composite supplier, Joby is well-positioned to deliver on the promise of aerial ridesharing.