Flying cars
Companies in the United States, Europe and Asia are also developing electric vehicles capable of vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), or flying cars and air taxis. The potential inherent in the market is shown by the fact that, according to JP Morgan’s forecast, the eVTOL market may reach the order of 1 trillion dollars by 2040. Of course, the players who are already active want to take as big a slice of this as possible, some of which CNBC examined, and what kind of product they are trying to bring to the market.
Although there are hundreds of models using different technologies on the design tables, we basically distinguish 4 main types among the most common. However, they all have in common that they can take off and land vertically and, as the name eVTOL implies, they are electrically powered.
- The first is the so-called “multicopter”, which, in terms of its operating principle, works similarly to a drone, that is, it flies with the help of propellers. Taking off and landing and hovering are their strengths, but due to the lack of wings, they are not suitable for traveling long distances. Due to their efficient vertical movement capabilities, they can be useful in urban areas.
- The “lift & cruise” concept is somewhere between a traditional airplane and a multicopter, as it uses general aircraft technology, such as wings, to cover longer distances, and combines this with certain functions of a multicopter. However, for the two technologies to work together, the propeller needs fewer and shorter blades, which makes it very noisy.
- Then there is the “tiltrotor” – a design that has one or more rotors mounted on the wing, which can be tilted to steer the vehicle. Such technology is used in the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey military aircraft.
- Finally, there are the “channeled vectored thrust” models, which have no propellers. These propel the vehicle upwards with several separately controlled electric fans. This model is quieter and can cover longer distances efficiently, but it is quite energy-intensive.
Now that we have seen the main technologies, the question may rightly arise as to whether these are not just reimagined helicopters. The companies themselves are trying to differentiate themselves from helicopters, on the one hand, with the technologies used for take-off and landing, on the other with electricity, and on the third with price. Using a helicopter is not a cheap genre, let alone buying one. Development companies, on the other hand, envision a vision in which these vehicles become an integral part of everyday life and transportation, whether in cities or between cities. And they want to do all this at an affordable price.
How are we now?
One of the promising companies in Europe is based near Munich Lily. Lilium is currently conducting test flights with the eVTOL vehicle in southern Spain. The plane uses the above-mentioned channeled vector thrust technology, and accordingly, it is aimed at longer regional flights rather than urban transport. As we mentioned above, the future often comes to us faster than expected, and it is no different in the case of Lilium, since the vehicle is set to be put into operation by 2026.
Lilium’s machine has a customizable interior, which means that the design and the number of seats can be changed according to the customer’s needs. The company is already accepting orders from the premium market: one machine will cost 9 million dollars, the version intended for operation by fleets will cost 7 million dollars. Lilium has several investors, including the Chinese tech company Tencent.
The video below shows a test flight with the Lilium Jet, the take-off starts from the 2nd minute.
If it’s futuristic, that is Alef Aeronautics is really developing a vehicle that could even come from the future. This eVTOL exhausts the concept of a flying car, since it is theoretically possible to drive on public roads and fly at the same time.
The chassis of the car is hollow and hides a number of propellers, thanks to which the vehicle takes off vertically and can fly on its side in the video showing its operation. Alef Aeronautics embarks on production in 2025 with great ambitions.
If everything goes well, if we have enough money, if the legislation does not deteriorate, then we plan to start the production of the first copy by the end of 2025
– said Jim Dukhovny, co-founder and CEO of Alef Aeronautics.
The company’s most famous backer is venture capitalist Tim Draper, who was an early investor in Tesla, SpaceX and Theranos. Customers can now pay a $150 deposit to pre-order the Model A, which is priced at $300,000.
The Chinese eSound makes a passenger drone designed to fly around cities using multiple propellers mounted on arms. EHang has received many certifications from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The latest is a so-called manufacturing certificate, which authorizes EHang to begin mass production of its eVTOL aircraft.
EHang’s flagship product, the EH26-S, has a suggested retail price of $410,000.
There are still questions
While eVTOLs are currently being tested in specialized locations, many manufacturers are talking about a future where they will be in commercial use, and some already envision these vehicles operating within cities. Others are looking at how these electric planes could be used to travel between cities, perhaps as a supplement or replacement for other modes of travel such as cars and trains.
However, this will also require adequate infrastructure, including the creation of so-called “vertiports”, or helipads combined with a kind of mini-airport, where these vehicles take off and land. More affluent individuals will likely be able to afford to buy and maintain their own electric aircraft, but the wider consumer base will presumably be made available by an operator-maintained fleet, similar to how airlines currently operate.
However, the introduction of eVTOLs comes with many challenges, of which compliance with regulations and guaranteeing safety are particularly important. Aviation regulatory authorities around the world are responsible for creating the rules around eVTOLs, however regulators in Europe, the US and Asia have introduced different rules and certifications that eVTOL manufacturers and operators must adhere to and meet before these aircraft can be flown. can be commercialized. Certifications cover areas such as aircraft safety and pilot licenses.
But perhaps even more challenging than these are public acceptance and adoption. If potential users have security concerns, or if the use of these devices is too expensive, this can seriously limit the development of the market.
Cover image credit: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
