SES AI, a developer of AI-enhanced lithium-metal and lithium-ion battery technologies, has entered into a framework agreement with Doroni Aerospace to design, develop, test and deliver a battery pack for the company’s H1-X two-seat personal electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The agreement establishes an aggregate price of up to $1.09 million for work expected to proceed in multiple stages during 2026 and 2027. An initial $65,000 tranche has been committed, while each subsequent stage will require Doroni Aerospace to issue a separate purchase order to SES AI. The framework also includes options for additional test systems and potential serial production.
SES AI will develop battery systems to support the aircraft’s planned ground and flight-test campaign, creating a path toward testing as early as 2027. Because the remaining work is contingent on future purchase orders, the framework does not require Doroni to proceed with every stage or guarantee that the agreement will generate the full $1.09 million. The battery packs will use high-energy-density cells developed through the SES AI Molecular Universe artificial intelligence platform. SES AI said the cells are approaching energy densities of 400 Wh/kg and have undergone abuse testing that includes nail penetration, overcharge and external short-circuit testing. The planned systems will also incorporate the company’s battery health monitoring technology.
The Doroni Aerospace H1-X personal eVTOL aircraft is the subject of a framework agreement under which SES AI will design and develop a battery pack for planned ground and flight testing. (Image courtesy of Doroni Aerospace)
“Doroni is a remarkable eVTOL developer, leading the charge on American-made personal electric aviation,” said Qichao Hu, Founder and CEO of SES AI. “The H1-X is exactly the kind of aircraft our aviation battery platform was built to power. We are proud to collaborate with Doroni Aerospace as its battery designer and developer, and we look forward to supporting Doroni from flight test through serial production.”
Doroni Aerospace is developing the H1-X for personal advanced air mobility applications. Its current design incorporates eight vertical and two horizontal ducted fans, a tandem-wing configuration and seating for two occupants. Doroni lists a targeted range of 100 miles, a cruise speed of 95 mph and a top speed of 120 mph, although these remain development-stage performance targets.
“We have reviewed various candidates for designing and developing our battery pack, and SES AI came out ahead where it matters most for the H1-X: performance, safety, and compliance,” said Doron Merdinger, Founder and CEO of Doroni Aerospace. “We are excited to initiate this collaboration with SES AI, who we believe can support Doroni Aerospace in the course of developing the battery pack for the H1-X with the ability to scale such design and development towards testing and serial production.”
The development program brings together Doroni’s personal eVTOL aircraft platform and SES AI’s aviation battery technology as both companies prepare for ground testing, flight testing and possible production. Doroni currently targets testing during 2027 and estimates that customer deliveries could begin in 2028, subject to the completion of aircraft development, testing, certification and manufacturing preparations.
About SES AI
SES AI develops and manufactures AI-enhanced lithium-metal and lithium-ion battery technologies for electric transportation, aerospace, defense, robotics and advanced mobility applications. The company applies artificial intelligence across battery research, materials discovery, cell design, engineering, manufacturing, and battery health and safety monitoring. Founded in 2012, SES AI is headquartered in the Boston area and maintains research, pilot production and manufacturing operations in the United States and South Korea. For additional information, please click here.
About Doroni Aerospace
Doroni Aerospace is a Florida-based advanced air mobility company developing the H1-X two-seat personal eVTOL aircraft. The aircraft combines vertical takeoff and landing capability with ducted-fan propulsion, a tandem-wing configuration and an AI-enabled digital co-pilot system. To learn more, please click here.
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Molly Bakewell Chamberlin is the Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Components Source Network, a 100% woman- and disability-owned B2B publishing and expert marketplace platform serving the global high-tech manufacturing and engineering community. She is the architect, author and developer of the Network’s 11 specialized e-news sites and 11 peer-vetted expert e-marketplaces, including Aerospace Technology Monthly. With more than 25 years of experience in strategic technical marketing, public relations and business development, she is also the Founder and President of Embassy Global, LLC, which has supported more than 200 high-tech industry brands worldwide since 2008. Molly also serves pro bono as Second Vice Chair of the Government Team for the WBENC Forum and is a long-standing advocate for small business, supplier diversity, sustainability and women in STEM. Connect with Molly on LinkedIn.
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