Barcelona, Spain, 10th October 2024 – Grasshopper Air Mobility, a Barcelona-based startup, is transforming regional logistics with the launch of its e350 Flying Cargo Van, a rapid flight-drive logistics drone for integrated end-to-end deliveries improving supply chain reliability, efficiency, cost and sustainability. Coinciding with the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW), this launch marks Grasshopper’s official entry into the Logistics and Advanced Air Mobility sectors.
The “e350 Flying Cargo Van” is an electric, fully autonomous VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) drone capable of transporting one pallet of up to 350kg at 220km/h over 200 km fully electric, or 600 km hybrid hydrogen-electric, delivering goods over 100km in just under 30 minutes. What sets the e350 apart is its ability to transition from flying to driving by folding its wings, allowing for efficient last-mile ground navigation. The e350 autonomously lands vertically, drives to the final destination, enters warehouses or factories, and handles automated loading, unloading, and charging of its specialized Cargo Containers via a
Charging and Loading Station (CLS) — all without human intervention.
The CLS infrastructure acts as a docking station that automates every post-landing process and allows for an integrated connection to both automated intralogistics systems and manual handling processes. Total turn-around time is reduced by up to 90% through the automated process of off-loading Cargo Containers with depleted batteries and cargo at one CLS and reloading a new container from another CLS with fully charged batteries and preloaded cargo. By autonomously navigating logistics sites and performing last-mile
deliveries in truck-free cities of the future, the e350 offers advantages far beyond standard aerial cargo solutions, which are limited to air-based transport and rely on manual interventions for cargo handling, ground transport, and charging.
“Our flagship drone, the Grasshopper e350, functions like a flying cargo van and is the only cargo drone globally designed specifically for Industry 4.0 applications. By autonomously handling the first and last mile as well as all loading and charging processes, we offer a fully integrated solution that increases delivery speed by 70% compared to a truck, has a 99% punctuality rate, produces zero emissions and automates the entire supply chain process for companies looking to modernize their supply chains,” said Jakob Saalfrank, CEO of Grasshopper Air Mobility.
Grasshopper's holistic approach combines air and ground logistics in a single, autonomous solution, offering unmatched reliability, faster deliveries, and reduced costs for sectors such as pharma, automotive, electronics, and industries with complex supply chains or high-value or high-urgency deliveries. The development roadmap targets a scaled prototype by 2026 and full-scale pilot operations by 2028.
Grasshopper Air Mobility is a certified startup by ENISA headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. As a member of the EU-backed Logistics 4.0 Incubator and with strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as the Drone Logistics Ecosystem, as part of Drone Logistics Investment Square (DLIS) program, and Advanced Air Mobility Institute (AAMI), Grasshopper is committed to reducing carbon footprints, enhancing delivery speeds, and lowering operational costs across various sectors, including manufacturing, express logistics, and medical logistics. Its mission is to lead the transformation of modern logistics, providing high-tech, high-performance solutions for the future of global supply chains.
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