This Slovakian startup claims we will own flying cars within 2 years
We’re getting closer to using flying cars
Aeromobil (Slovakia)
The companyAeromobilhas been around since 2010 and achievedkey flight testing targetsin March last year for its two-seater 4.0 flying car. It delivers a flying range of up to 740 km and a driving range of up to 1000 km. The two-seater is scheduled for release in 2023, followed by a four-seater in 2025. The company intends to roll out electric battery-powered aircraft in the future.
Terrafugia (US/China)
Geely-ownedTerrafugia was founded in 2006.Unlike other aircars on offer at present, it runs on electric batteries.
The company’s Transition flying carreceivedan FAA Special Light-Sport Aircraft(LSA) airworthiness certificate in 2021, making it legal to be flown in the US. At the time, Terrafugia stated that it was aiming to have the vehicle both sky and road-legal by 2022.
However, over 100 US staff became redundant in 2021. Currently,Terrafugia offers no concrete time to market details.
Pal V (The Netherlands)
PAL-Vis perhaps one of the closest to selling flying cars. In October 2020, the PAL-V Liberty received road admission for Europe and numerous countries outside Europe.
PAL-V is now also the first to complete thefull certificationwith theEuropean Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA).
Aircars are challenging beasts
These kinds of aircraft have their advantages and disadvantages. Owners can drive to take off or theoretically find a less crowded place to fly compared tovertiports. Except for the Terrafugia, they run on gas. This makes them faster to refuel than the time it takes to charge an EVTOL.
However, this brings their environmental benefits into question. Do we want to fill the sky with gas-powered vehicles that only carry a couple of people?
Further, air cars need accreditation from both road transport and aviation bodies.
For example, theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administrationrequires extensive crash testing in the US, including side and rear impact tests. They also need to determine whether the folding wings cause any blind spots in driving and their impact, if any, on crash safety.
Then, they also need to comply with the appropriate air regulatory bodies in the countries they wish to market to. This is a laborious project that takes about 10 years over multiple stages. These companies are in for the long haul.
Look, I’m not entirely sure we’ll see commercial offerings in the next two to five years, especially considering most EVTOLs are aiming for cargo flights first. But these folks in Slovakia are organized, and definitely worth watching closely.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart ci(show all)Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart cities, and the future of alternative energy sources like electric batteries, solar, and hydrogen.
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