The age of the flying car is slowly but surely approaching in China, and a vehicle of this type has already been allowed to operate, albeit under limited conditions. Xpeng AeroHT describes its X2 as the first true flying car, a title that could be claimed by other companies such as the Slovak AirCar and Switchblade, but which was long predated by the Mizar 210 built in 1973.
The X2, like its competitors, will be able to operate in hybrid mode: it can travel on roads by rolling on wheels, but can also take to the air if necessary using its retractable propellers.
XPENG X2 obtains the special flight permit issued by CAAC. It is also the first manned eVTOL product in China to obtain this permit. The progress of flying cars keeps moving forward! #XPENGAEROHT #XPENGX2 #FlyingCar #eVTOL pic.twitter.com/8IeEkpIhjE
— XPENG AEROHT (@XPENG_AEROHT) January 30, 2023
The vehicle’s entire structure is made of carbon fibre, making it extremely light (560 kg) and its enclosed cabin can accommodate two people. It has a maximum speed of 130 km/h and a range of 600 km on the road.
The final version of the vehicle, intended for sale, is designed by the company in the shape of a real car, but the prototype is even more eVTOL in terms of its appearance and mode of operation. The current version of the X2 took to the skies for the first time in public in Dubai last October and Xpeng AeroHT says it has now received the necessary approvals from the authorities for further flights and wider operations.
For now, the permit only allows flights under certain conditions, but the company did not elaborate on what exactly this means, but it is certain that testing will continue and the final sixth generation version of the X2 could be available to customers in 2024 at a price of around $150,000.
Source: Electrive
Recent article
Drones News & Articles
The Promise of Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) Systems Powered Drones
Drones News & Articles
Swarm Technology for Drones
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
The Global Race for Air Mobility Supremacy: Who Are the Leading Players and Innovators ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The Environmental Impact of Electric Aviation: Beyond Zero Emissions
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
What Role Will Public Perception and Community Engagement Play in the Adoption of Urban Air Mobility ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Stratolaunch’s hypersonic vehicle launched for the first time
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
How are emerging technologies like blockchain and IoT being leveraged to enhance the safety, efficiency, and user experience of urban air mobility services ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Centuries-old technology could revolutionise aviation
Air taxi News & Articles
Economic Viability: Are Flying Cars and eVTOLs Economically Viable for Mass Adoption ?
Electric airplane News & Articles
The Environmental Impact of Electric Planes: Are They Truly the Greener Alternative ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
How Airbus’ CityAirbus NextGen Aims to Revolutionize Urban Mobility ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
Alef’s flying car preparing for take-off
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Beyond the Prototype: The Economic Viability of Electric Aircraft
News & Articles Points of interest
Achieving Market Dominance in the eVTOL and Flying Car Industry
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Enhancing Emergency Response with eVTOL Technology
News & Articles Points of interest
The first large-scale rocket backpack competition was organised
Drones News & Articles
Red Bull has created the world’s fastest drone
Flying Cars News & Articles
Alef Aeronautics’ Model A could be in production in 2025
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
CycloTech Raises 20 Million Euros for Revolutionary Aviation Propulsion System
Flying Cars News & Articles
The Switchblade Flying Car: A Milestone in Personal Air Travel Featured in Pioneering Publication
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
What are/will be the impacts of Evtol and flying cars on infrastructure ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Unveiling the Energy Dynamics of eVTOLs
Flying Cars News & Articles
Evolving Skies: The Surge in eVTOL and Flying Car Production
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
What are the requirements for building a vertiport ?
Drones News & Articles
The role and future of military drones in wars
Flying Cars News & Articles
What are the safety concerns about flying cars and Evtol ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
What percentage of people may use flying cars and Evtols in the future ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
How Will Flying Car Technology Evolve in the Next Decade ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Satellite Communications in the Age of eVTOLs
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
eVTOLs: Revolutionizing Urban Mobility with Electric Propulsion
Drones News & Articles
A drone airliner lands at Abu Dhabi airport
Air taxi News & Articles
The cost of China’s Ehang unmanned air taxi revealed
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The Role of Electric Motors in eVTOL Efficiency and Feasibility
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Evtols and the current state of self-direction
Air taxi News & Articles
Autonomous air mobility with EHang
Flying Cars News & Articles
New jobs in the eVTOL and flying car era
Air taxi News & Articles
The Future of Air Traffic Management in Urban Air Mobility
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
FAA’s Path to eVTOL Certification
Drones News & Articles
WaveAerospace’s hybrid-electric Huntress turbojet unveiled
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Skyfly and AeroVolt: air mobility in the UK
More articles you may be interested in...
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Enhancing Emergency Response with eVTOL Technology
News & Articles Points of interest
The first large-scale rocket backpack competition was organised
Drones News & Articles
Red Bull has created the world’s fastest drone
Flying Cars News & Articles
Alef Aeronautics’ Model A could be in production in 2025
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
eVTOLs: Revolutionizing Urban Mobility with Electric Propulsion
Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles represent a cutting-edge frontier in the quest for.......... READ MORE
Drones News & Articles
A drone airliner lands at Abu Dhabi airport
In an age where innovation intersects with tradition, drone light shows have emerged as the.......... READ MORE
Air taxi News & Articles
The cost of China’s Ehang unmanned air taxi revealed
In a groundbreaking move that heralds a new era in urban transportation, China's Ehang has.......... READ MORE
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The Role of Electric Motors in eVTOL Efficiency and Feasibility
The emergence of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles and flying cars represents a.......... READ MORE
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Evtols and the current state of self-direction
The current state of self-direction, or autonomous navigation, in eVTOLs is a fascinating convergence of.......... READ MORE
Air taxi News & Articles
Autonomous air mobility with EHang
In an era marked by rapid technological advances, the concept of urban mobility is undergoing.......... READ MORE
Flying Cars News & Articles
New jobs in the eVTOL and flying car era
As the eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) and flying car industry edges closer from.......... READ MORE
Air taxi News & Articles
The Future of Air Traffic Management in Urban Air Mobility
The integration of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) into existing air traffic management (ATM) systems poses.......... READ MORE