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Shall we talk about flying cars?
By 2030 we will be taking them to work and on holiday. They will be fully electric, super quiet, and far safer than driving.
Oh, and they'll be cheaper than an Uber...
Here's how it will go down
By 2030 we will be taking them to work and on holiday. They will be fully electric, super quiet, and far safer than driving.
Oh, and they'll be cheaper than an Uber...
Here's how it will go down
Context: I wrote papers on the future of aerial mobility at @Cambridge_Uni and am now CEO at @flockcover (UK's leading drone insurer).
We insure 1000s of drone businesses, including flying taxi companies...
We insure 1000s of drone businesses, including flying taxi companies...
These things are no longer science fiction. They exist today. And they work!
Here's the 5-seater @lilium jet, for example. It can take off vertically, transition to 'forward-flight' mode, and then land safely (with no pilot).
See for yourself:
Here's the 5-seater @lilium jet, for example. It can take off vertically, transition to 'forward-flight' mode, and then land safely (with no pilot).
See for yourself:
And here's a manned @volocoptor whizzing around Singapore: https://twitter.com/i/status/1186530906938494976
It's not just startups though.
Major players like @hyundai have also released their own concepts. Like this beauty...the SA-1: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/pictures/hyundai-uber-elevate-urban-air-taxi-ces-2020/
Major players like @hyundai have also released their own concepts. Like this beauty...the SA-1: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/pictures/hyundai-uber-elevate-urban-air-taxi-ces-2020/
There's serious money on the line here too.
Joby Aviation recently raised over *half a billion dollars* for their electric eVTOL, in a funding round led by Toyota:
https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/15/joby-aviation-raises-590-million-led-by-toyota-to-launch-an-electric-air-taxi-service/
Joby Aviation recently raised over *half a billion dollars* for their electric eVTOL, in a funding round led by Toyota:
https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/15/joby-aviation-raises-590-million-led-by-toyota-to-launch-an-electric-air-taxi-service/
(Not to be outdone, @lilium raised a cool $240M last year too...) https://lilium.com/newsroom-detail/lilium-completes-funding-round-worth-more-than-240-million
Okay. So they work. And they have lots of money.
But will these companies actually be allowed to take people from A to B any time soon...?
...Hell yes!
Joby Aviation is already working with the US Military to do just that:
https://twitter.com/oliwalkerjones/status/1336985378855804928
@oliwalkerjones
But will these companies actually be allowed to take people from A to B any time soon...?
...Hell yes!
Joby Aviation is already working with the US Military to do just that:
https://twitter.com/oliwalkerjones/status/1336985378855804928
@oliwalkerjones
And Bristol-based @VerticalAero is targeting a 2024 commercial launch.
(Cruise speeds of 150 mph, 30x quieter than a helicopter - what's not to love?) https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/08/26/vertical-aerospace-reveals-va-1x-air-taxi-targets-2024-commercial-operations/
(Cruise speeds of 150 mph, 30x quieter than a helicopter - what's not to love?) https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/08/26/vertical-aerospace-reveals-va-1x-air-taxi-targets-2024-commercial-operations/
So where will all of these flying taxis take off and land?
From 'Vertiports', of course!
(Get used to that word, we'll be using a lot in a few years...)
Florida are building ten of them!
https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-getting-all-electric-flying-taxis-hubs-2021-1?r=US&IR=T
From 'Vertiports', of course!
(Get used to that word, we'll be using a lot in a few years...)
Florida are building ten of them!
https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-getting-all-electric-flying-taxis-hubs-2021-1?r=US&IR=T
But surely only the super-rich will be able to ride in flying taxis, right?
Well, actually...
Economies of scale + technological advancements = flying taxis that are cheaper than road taxis*
*According to the (excellent) Levitate Capital whitepaper: https://levitatecap.com/levitate/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Levitate-Capital-White-Paper.pdf
Well, actually...
Economies of scale + technological advancements = flying taxis that are cheaper than road taxis*
*According to the (excellent) Levitate Capital whitepaper: https://levitatecap.com/levitate/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Levitate-Capital-White-Paper.pdf
Flying cars are not without their complications, mind you.
Tight regulatory standards and sky-high safety expectations present major hurdles: https://www.ft.com/content/6b4a0b72-3a85-4bed-97d0-f4225bdcde9f
Tight regulatory standards and sky-high safety expectations present major hurdles: https://www.ft.com/content/6b4a0b72-3a85-4bed-97d0-f4225bdcde9f
So...what does this all mean?
Prediction time!
2021-2023
Outpouring of Government support for flying taxi initiatives - and some BIG funding rounds
2024-2025
Launch of commercial flights (mainly as a tourist attraction)
Prediction time!
2021-2023
Outpouring of Government support for flying taxi initiatives - and some BIG funding rounds
2024-2025
Launch of commercial flights (mainly as a tourist attraction)
2030+
Global rollout, fully autonomous aircraft, and on-demand services in all major cities
The birth of a wonderful new mode of transportation: green, safe, and a LOT more fun than sitting in traffic
To the innovators making it happen: thank you.
To the rest of us...buckle up!
Global rollout, fully autonomous aircraft, and on-demand services in all major cities
The birth of a wonderful new mode of transportation: green, safe, and a LOT more fun than sitting in traffic
To the innovators making it happen: thank you.
To the rest of us...buckle up!
Well done making it this far!
If you liked this thread, go back here and retweet it :) https://twitter.com/edleonklinger/status/1356719721459159040
If you liked this thread, go back here and retweet it :) https://twitter.com/edleonklinger/status/1356719721459159040
If you want to learn more about this topic, here are some great accounts to follow:
@Osinto @eVTOLInsights @ElectricVTOL @ehang @Lilium @SkyportsHQ @cdronepro @waitbutwhy @TechHummingbird @VerticalAero @ElectricVTOLcom @AirMapIO @altitudeangel @futureofflight @MCarter_KTN
@Osinto @eVTOLInsights @ElectricVTOL @ehang @Lilium @SkyportsHQ @cdronepro @waitbutwhy @TechHummingbird @VerticalAero @ElectricVTOLcom @AirMapIO @altitudeangel @futureofflight @MCarter_KTN
Flying car news is coming thick and fast this week!
Iâll keep this thread updated with major announcements as they arrive.
Today: @united Airlines purchases $1Bn of electric eVTOL aircraft from Archer.
Absolutely astonishing. https://evtol.com/features/archer-public-billion-valuation-united-airlines-orders-evtol-aircraft/
Iâll keep this thread updated with major announcements as they arrive.
Today: @united Airlines purchases $1Bn of electric eVTOL aircraft from Archer.
Absolutely astonishing. https://evtol.com/features/archer-public-billion-valuation-united-airlines-orders-evtol-aircraft/
Itâs SPAC season for flying car companies!
Joby Aviation may be going public, in a deal led by @reidhoffman & @markpinc.
https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/12/with-a-rumored-deal-for-joby-aviation-and-archers-spac-making-electric-aircraft-is-now-a-10-billion-business/amp/
Joby Aviation may be going public, in a deal led by @reidhoffman & @markpinc.
https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/12/with-a-rumored-deal-for-joby-aviation-and-archers-spac-making-electric-aircraft-is-now-a-10-billion-business/amp/
