Page 36 - drive a2b may 2020

All-Electric

Sky Taxi

to launch in Los Angeles in 2021

By Mike Richard

Amid this ongoing pandemic, most world’s worst traffic, these taxi trips landing strip of some kind to take
of us are just looking to a future with could replace hours-long car rides off and land. Unlike conventional,
outdoor concerts, in-person chats with blissfully short flights that take gas-powered planes, however,
with other humans, and not having just a matter of minutes. the all-electric vehicles are better
to dress like a cardiac surgeon to go for the environment and easier
outside. When we do emerge from When most of us think of flying to fly. They’re also much cheaper
our coronavirus cocoons later this cars, we envision skies filled with to maintain and operate, costing
year — or next? — we’ll be one step go-anywhere eVTOLs hopping from just US$23 (AU$36) per flight hour
closer to a future with flying cars. building top to building top. Indeed, compared to US$110 (AU$171) per
When that happens, it might seem as such vehicles with eVTOL technology hour for a comparable Cessna 172.
though you’ve time-traveled, but one — electric vertical takeoff and While Quantum Air’s plan doesn’t
innovative Californian company is landing capability — have existed for quite herald a Jetson's-esque
promising that reality. decades. But, we’re still years away futurescape of flying cars, it’s a step
from fleets of commercial eVTOL in the right direction.
Quantum Air recently announced craft cruising above the world’s cities.
plans for the world’s first commercial Quantum Air intends to launch the
“air taxis.” The tentative program The vehicles in Quantum’s new fleet sometime in 2021. There’s no
includes a fleet of 26 flying taxis that flight rely instead on eVTOL or official word on the average cost of
will shuttle passengers between “electric conventional takeoff and an air taxi flight. It’s clear, however,
major points in the Los Angeles landing” technology. From the that Quantum intends to make the
metropolitan area. In a city that’s outside, they resemble traditional fleet an affordable alternative to
notorious for having some of the two- and four-seater Cessna ground-based transportation.
aircraft, and they likewise require a
36 DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · May 2020