The battery pack manufacturing line was built to be an “automotive style” line that is designed for high-volume production from day one with the final phase of the facility set to be capable of producing up to 15,000 battery packs per year.
Archer has applied automation in key areas of the battery pack manufacturing process to improve quality, operator safety and data traceability. This includes cell test and load, adhesive dispensing, laser cleaning, laser welding and end of line testing.
Archer chose to integrate vertically its design and manufacturing of the battery pack itself to ensure it meets the levels of safety, performance and reliability necessary for its aviation use case. Archer’s battery pack implements a proprietary and robust thermal runaway containment strategy.
The battery packs use cylindrical cells as those, relative to other cell form factors, have a track record of safety, performance and scalability. Archer’s battery pack recently successfully completed multiple drop tests, which are some of the most challenging tests Archer will face as part of the FAA’s Type Certification program, further validating the safety and durability of the pack’s proprietary design. (Earlier post.)
Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.
