Plan Before You Build: How Simulation Technology Is Shaping the eVTOL Infrastructure Era

The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry has recorded another significant development: Electro Ventures has announced the acquisition of Vertiport Simulations, consolidating expertise in electric aviation infrastructure, charging technology, and digital planning tools into a single organisation.

In a recent episode of the eVTOL Insights Podcast, host Jason Pritchard sat down with Josh Portlock, Founding Partner and Director of Innovation at Electro Ventures, and Joe Mattern, Founder of Vertiport Simulations, to explore the strategic rationale behind the deal, the growing importance of simulation, and the road ahead for electric aviation infrastructure.

The Strategic Logic Behind the Acquisition

For Portlock, the acquisition represents a natural extension of Electro Ventures' mission to accelerate sustainable mobility. The company's portfolio spans electric aviation, hydrofoil vessels, and next-generation transport technologies, all anchored by a core commitment to electrifying conventional fossil-fuel-powered transportation.

Reflecting on the company's journey, Portlock said: "Electric aviation is my passion — my dream is to make it mainstream. But it's the hardest and most entrenched industry to electrify. We saw opportunities to diversify into other advanced mobility sectors, but always with the ultimate goal of supporting the future of electric aviation."

The addition of Vertiport Simulations strengthens Electro Ventures' position across the AAM ecosystem, complementing existing businesses including Electro Aero and FlyOnE with enhanced planning and visualisation capabilities.

Two Years in the Making, Built on Trust

For Mattern, the deal is the culmination of years of collaboration and mutual respect. Despite being only two years old, Vertiport Simulations has built a reputation for producing highly detailed digital representations of vertiports, charging infrastructure, and future operating environments.

"It's been an exciting and exhilarating time," Mattern said of the acquisition. "We've been working hard, and most importantly, we've had a great relationship with Josh from day one — mutual respect, full trust. This merger happened very naturally."

From Concept to Reality: The Indispensable Role of Simulation

A recurring theme throughout the conversation was the growing importance of simulation as the industry transitions from concept development to real-world deployment.

As aircraft developers continue to advance through type certification, infrastructure providers and operators must determine how future vertiports, charging systems, and operational networks will actually function on the ground. Portlock highlighted how simulation helps clients make better infrastructure decisions:

"These decisions are far better made in a simulated environment than by guesswork. When you start talking about dozens of charging units and how they relate to the FATO [Final Approach and Take-Off area], charging pads, or hangars, the value of simulation becomes extremely clear."

Mattern elaborated on how Vertiport Simulations enables stakeholders to visualise future facilities before committing significant capital. The company combines Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 with proprietary scenario development tools to create photorealistic digital environments at any location worldwide.

"We just need to know the latitude and longitude of where they want to place the vertiport or charging platform — anywhere on Earth — and we can recreate it in Microsoft Flight Simulator," he explained. "We then build realistic simulation scenarios so clients fully understand the site layout, operational flow, and infrastructure requirements before a single shovel hits the ground."

Charging Infrastructure: The Lifeblood of eVTOL Commercialisation

The podcast also took a deep dive into the critical role charging infrastructure plays in commercial eVTOL operations. Drawing on Electro Aero's more than eight years of experience operating electric aircraft, Portlock argued that charging facilities can no longer be treated as an afterthought.

"A $5 million eVTOL aircraft with no charging at the origin or destination is just an expensive hovering toy," he said. "Every flight requires a charge. That makes infrastructure absolutely mission-critical."

Portlock also stressed that charging system design should be driven by aircraft operational requirements — not the other way around: "Don't bring a $5 million aircraft to a $100,000 charger. Bring the $100,000 charger to the $5 million aircraft. It's simpler, safer, and more efficient."

2025: A Turning Point for Infrastructure Deployment

Looking ahead, both guests expressed strong confidence in the infrastructure deployment outlook for 2025 and beyond. Government-backed programmes, continued aircraft maturation, and deepening industry collaboration are generating significant momentum across the sector.

Portlock characterised the current period as "a growth year for infrastructure," while emphasising that collaboration remains essential: "This industry isn't yet at the stage of fighting over market share — what's needed right now is driving market adoption. Helping each other and helping the whole industry achieve broader adoption benefits everyone."

Mattern was equally optimistic about Florida's emergence as a leading AAM market, highlighting the company's vision for planning future vertiports across the state and the opportunity to integrate simulation technology, charging infrastructure, and renewable energy systems into unified facilities.

Conclusion: AAM Success Goes Beyond the Aircraft

The overarching message from the conversation was clear: the future of Advanced Air Mobility is no longer just about the aircraft. Success will depend on building a complete ecosystem encompassing vertiports, charging networks, energy systems, and operational planning tools.

Through this partnership, Electro Ventures and Vertiport Simulations are positioning themselves at the heart of that transformation — committed to turning virtual concepts into real-world infrastructure and laying the groundwork for the next generation of aviation.

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