German company Volocopter plans to roll out flying electric taxis in the European Union from next year, which would be able to carry passengers around major European cities like Paris.
Currently, the company’s VoloCity model is a two-seater, with space for a pilot and one-passenger. It is classed as an Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which is supposed to be quieter and cheaper than craft powered by traditional fuel sources.
#FlightTesting continues: We’re working on opening the flight envelope for our commercial VoloCity aircraft. Join us in our car as we push the max. speed limit in a remotely piloted configuration. #Volocopter #AirTaxi #BTS #UAM pic.twitter.com/oGfG22CPBy
— Volocopter (@volocopter) April 14, 2023
“Everything is ready and set to go for the middle of next year,” said Christian Bauer, the company’s CFO, as reported by BBC News.
“We will be starting with more premium prices at around a helicopter segment pricing. And then we will gradually go down, with a big step, when we have a four-or-five seater model in place.”
He added: “I would say we are at the last step of the first marathon to certify that vehicle. So then the next marathon begins – to get to profitability.”
The company says that it expects the EU’s aerospace regulator, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), to approve the craft’s usage within a few months, ahead of the Summer Olympics in Paris next year.
The craft has a range of 22 miles before it needs to refuel, which is significantly shorter than the range of most helicopters – a fact that Bauer blames on the “batter technology.” He says that shortcomings in the technology is “hindering” the craft’s distance. However, 22 miles is considered sufficient for short journeys around cities, such as from the airport to the city centre.
In theory, such an air taxi would be faster than a conventional car journey, as it could travel in a straight line to its destination without regard for traffic or buildings.
The company says that their technology will be needed in future to deal with high densities of people living in “megacities” around the world.
“Urban air mobility (or UAM) is our solution to the problems faced as a direct result of the high influx of people into megacities across the globe,” the company’s website reads.
“Our game-changing transportation offering will bypass congested streets by staying squarely in its designated routes in the lower airspace. We plan to offer point-to-point connections that slash journey times from key hubs like airports.
“And we aim to do it all with our trio of aircraft: the VoloCity air taxi, the VoloRegion long-haul passenger aircraft, and the VoloDrone heavy-lift cargo drone – all of it brought together by our innovative urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem. We plan to launch commercial flights in Paris by summer 2024.”
They add: “Get ready for a better, less-congested tomorrow.”