Flying cars and flying taxis

Of course, with the advancement of science, inventions that were previously considered science fiction may become more and more a reality, and this is no different with flying cars or the service associated with them, the “winged” taxis. Hundreds of companies are already trying to work out the perfect airplane and 175 concrete designs have been completed that are just waiting for someone to finally nod. The real question, however, is that once such an invention becomes a reality, will it be affordable for the average person?

The BBC wrote more closely on the topic of flying cars, and two German companies were contacted who had already produced prototypes of “electric vertical take-offs” or “eVTOL”. and presented at a technology event in Lisbon.

Volocopter and Lilium are “friendly rivals” in the air taxi business, according to the BBC, and we can also see a significant difference in the development of prototypes of the vehicles they make. The Lilium is an extremely sleek, elegant vehicle that looks more like an airplane, while the futuristic design of the Volocopter combines the exterior of a drone and a helicopter.

Of course, there are also differences in technology. Lilium’s electronic vehicle can fly for an hour, but the company sees the real challenge as moving from a two-seater model to one that can carry multiple passengers and can also move from vertical to horizontal flight.

Volocopter is planning shorter journeys between stations called Voloportop and plans to deploy dozens to Singapore by 2035, capable of carrying 10,000 passengers a day. The ultimate goal is to be able to get off the vehicle everywhere, not just at the stations.

For the time being, however, not every ideal technical field, such as a Volocopter taxi in October during a short test trip between two points in a Singapore port, almost had to land due to an unexpected storm.

Test flights are, of course, key if Lilium and Volocopter are to get a general level license, but that still takes a long time to do. However, both companies promise that as soon as they receive the necessary permits and can launch regular flights, the service will be affordable for everyone.

“If we’re talking about a short trip, it won’t cost more than the price of a normal taxi, if it’s longer, it’ll cost as much as a train ticket or a cheaper plane ticket.” Said Daniel Wiegand, founder of Lilium.

Volocopter founder Alexander Zosel agrees with this price range, but also stressed that his company was founded along three principles. “We wanted to create the quietest and safest flight, which is not about being a toy gadget for guys, but about revolutionizing aviation.”

Both companies plan to launch the service within five years, initially with a human pilot and later with a robotic pilot, but it will take some time for the latter goal to be achieved.