Frustrated by being stuck in traffic, wishing your car could fly? The flying vehicles of science fiction are about to become a reality. Germany's Volocopter, despite all odds, plans to launch its flying taxis at the Paris Olympics in July. South Korea's Hyundai Group and Airbus both unveiled their next-generation prototypes earlier this year. The dream of flying taxis is not far away, but consumers are still wondering: how much will a ride cost?
Airbus prototype makes its debut
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are on the rise, with aircraft manufacturers, automakers, and startups all investing in them. Airbus unveiled its eVTOL prototype, the "CityAirbus NextGen," yesterday (7th), announcing that it will begin test flights this year.
Airbus' CityAirbus NextGen is slated to debut in March 2024.
Airbus launched the CityAirbus in 2019. This new generation of CityAirbus is an all-electric aircraft that can carry four people, has a range of 80 kilometers, and can fly at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. It emphasizes low noise and is an eVTOL aircraft designed specifically for the transportation needs of large cities.
The Associated Press reported that Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, the world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer, is also developing eVTOL, which is expected to be launched in 2026 and will be able to carry 4 to 6 passengers.
Aircraft giant Boeing completed a test flight of its "PAV" prototype in 2019, but the project was suspended. In 2023, Boeing fully acquired eVTOL startup Wisk, confirming its continued presence in the eVTOL market.
Hyundai Group enters eVTOL market, aims for commercialization in 2028
After Hyundai Group first launched the air taxi "S-A1" at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), it continued to launch the "S-A2" at CES in January this year.
The "S-A2" was developed by Hyundai's subsidiary Supernal. It is equipped with 8 rotors, can carry 1 pilot and 4 passengers, has a range of 40 to 60 kilometers, and is expected to be tested by the end of this year.
Supernal said the aircraft will be as quiet as a dishwasher, about 65 decibels during vertical takeoff and landing and just 45 decibels in horizontal flight. However, it may take until 2028 to reach the cost and safety standards for commercialization.
How much does a flight cost?
Germany's Volocopter has completed test flights in several countries and is awaiting approval from Paris authorities to demonstrate its air taxi service during the Olympics. However, ordinary citizens will have to wait a while before they can take to the skies.
Aviation media "Aerotime" takes stock of the challenges of eVTOL, including funding, complex aviation regulations and certification, recruiting and training enough pilots, maintenance costs, etc.
Aerotime asked, "How are air taxi pilots' salaries calculated?" Pilots are limited, and to compete with airlines, salaries cannot be too low. Aircraft also require regular maintenance, and these costs are passed on to passengers. In other words, in the early days of air taxis, only the wealthy can afford them. Even if they move toward cost reduction and scale expansion, there are still many hurdles to overcome.
Fly to the limited sky
The dream of flying drives people forward. Money may not be a problem, but public acceptance and air traffic control are definitely issues. If Volocopter wants its air taxis to be a highlight of the 2024 Olympics, it should first consult the citizens of Paris.
Urban Air Mobility reported that Paris's planning review committee publicly opposed the plan. They were concerned about increased air noise, visual interference with the sky, and the safety of passers-by.
The skies of the future will be bustling. The Guardian reports that Australia projects air traffic will surge from the current 1.5 million to 60 million. Airservices Australia officials have stated that existing air traffic control methods are inadequate to cope with future air traffic and will inevitably rely on more automated technology. "After all, the skies are finite."
References：
*Supernal （2024/01/09），Supernal Debuts eVTOL Product Concept at CES 2024
*Airbus（2024/03/07），CityAirbus NextGen makes its debut
*Associated Press (2024/02/24), Hyundai’s Supernal and Embraer-backed Eve Air Mobility see future in electric-powered air taxis
*Aerotime（2023/08/12），eVTOL aircraft: the revolutionary industry that may all end in tears
*Volocopter（2023/06/21），NEOM and Volocopter: First Electric Air Taxi Flight in Saudi Arabia
*Volocopter（2024/02/29），Volocopter Receives Green Light for VoloCity Serial Production
*AFP（2024/01/16），Volocopter flying taxi seeks to seduce Paris
Source: Environmental Information Centre
