Dan Zukowski

Journalist, feature writer, essayist.

Transportation Reporter, Smart Cities Dive


Archer Aviation debuts production version of eVTOL aircraft

Archer Aviation unveiled the production version of its eVTOL aircraft on Thursday in Palo Alto, California. Named “Midnight,” the aircraft is designed for urban air mobility, operating on short distance trips of about 20 miles with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes between flights. It can carry four passengers plus the pilot. The all-electric aircraft is designed to fly at about 2,000 feet, and the company says it will be 1,000 times quieter than a helicopter. Six small downward-facin

I am the transportation reporter for Smart Cities Dive, where I cover trends and developments in public transportation, zero-emission and autonomous vehicles, urban air mobility, passenger rail and related federal and congressional actions. 

Previously, I served as a feature writer and correspondent for Trains magazine, and my byline has appeared in CityLab, Grist, Salon, Sierra magazine, Hakai, Mongabay, Pacific Standard, and elsewhere. My writing career began as a business journalist for the WardsAuto group of automotive industry publications, reporting on manufacturers and suppliers, along with consumer, marketing and government issues. 

Between stints in journalism, I've led the national public relations accounts at major agencies for Kawasaki, Honda and Toyota, counseling CEOs and upper management.  

I am a member of the Lexington Group for Transportation History, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), and Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE).

Contact Me