Archer Aviation, BETA Technologies, and Macquarie Capital Launch ACES to Build 250-Site U.S. eVTOL Charging Network

Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR), BETA Technologies (NYSE: BETA), and Macquarie Capital announced America’s Consortium for Electric Skyways (ACES) on July 16, 2026, a plan to electrify up to 250 air taxi sites across the United States over the coming decade. BETA supplies CCS-standard charging hardware at each site; Archer anchors the network with planned passenger air taxi operations in California, Texas, Florida, and New York; and Macquarie Capital arranges the investment capital to fund site acquisition, development, and construction. The consortium directly supports both companies’ participation in the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.

Infrastructure Has Always Been the Missing Piece

Commercial eVTOL operations require more than certified aircraft. They require a network of vertiports and charging stations capable of supporting back-to-back turnaround cycles in dense urban environments. Without that infrastructure in place before aircraft enter service, early operators face the same chicken-and-egg problem that slowed early EV adoption: passengers won’t book flights if charging points don’t exist, and investors won’t fund charging infrastructure without confirmed passenger demand. ACES solves that problem by building the network concurrently with aircraft certification and eIPP operations. BETA’s hardware runs on the Combined Charging Standard endorsed by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and adopted across nearly all eVTOL OEMs, meaning ACES sites serve multiple aircraft types rather than locking in a single operator.

Both Companies Arrive With Strong Certification and Operational Momentum

Archer enters ACES as the furthest-advanced U.S. eVTOL OEM on the FAA certification track. The company became the first to achieve 100% FAA acceptance of its Means of Compliance documents, closed Phase 3 of the FAA’s four-phase Type Certification process in Q1 2026, and now targets Type Inspection Authorization flights with Midnight in 2026. Its order book stands at approximately $6 billion, spanning United Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Kakao Mobility, and the company holds roughly $1.8 billion in liquidity. BETA, meanwhile, was selected to participate in seven of eight eIPP launch programs—the most of any company—and already completed the first electric aircraft flights under the eIPP, transporting manufactured organs in coordination with state aviation departments. Both companies’ eIPP participation directly ties into the ACES build-out, since the White House’s program requires verified charging infrastructure at each operational site.

Macquarie’s Capital Arrangement Role Is the Key Commercial Unlock

Macquarie Capital’s involvement transforms ACES from an infrastructure concept into a financeable project. Rather than requiring Archer or BETA to deploy their own balance sheets across 250 sites—a capital commitment that would strain both companies—Macquarie arranges third-party investment capital to fund land, construction, and equipment at each location. That structure lets both OEMs preserve liquidity for aircraft development and certification while still locking in the charging network their operations depend on. Macquarie brings deep experience in aviation and energy infrastructure financing, having arranged capital for airports, renewable energy assets, and transportation networks globally. The firm’s involvement also signals institutional confidence that ACES sites will generate long-term revenue streams attractive to infrastructure-class investors, particularly as passenger volumes ramp following FAA certification.

Strategic Investment Summary

• ACES Launch: Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR), BETA Technologies (NYSE: BETA), and Macquarie Capital launched the America’s Consortium for Electric Skyways on July 16, 2026, targeting up to 250 CCS-standard eVTOL charging sites across the United States over the next decade.
• Role Split: BETA supplies purpose-built CCS charging hardware at each site; Archer anchors the network with planned air taxi operations in California, Texas, Florida, and New York; Macquarie Capital arranges the investment capital to fund site acquisition, development, and construction.
• eIPP Integration: ACES directly supports Archer’s and BETA’s participation in the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which requires verified charging infrastructure at each operational site and targets first U.S. passenger air taxi flights in the second half of 2026.
• Interoperability Design: BETA’s CCS-standard hardware, endorsed by GAMA and adopted across nearly all eVTOL OEMs, allows ACES sites to serve multiple aircraft types, increasing network utilization and broadening the commercial case for infrastructure investors.
• Archer Certification Progress: Archer became the first eVTOL OEM to achieve 100% FAA Means of Compliance acceptance and close Phase 3 of Type Certification in Q1 2026, holding a ~$6 billion order book and ~$1.8 billion in liquidity as it targets TIA flights in 2026.
• BETA eIPP Leadership: BETA was selected for seven of eight eIPP launch programs—the most of any company—and has already completed the first electric aircraft flights under the program, transporting manufactured organs in coordination with state aviation departments.

Find out more about the latest corporate developments and financial reports at the Archer Aviation investor portal and the BETA Technologies investor portal.