Alef Aeronautics’ Model A flying car tilts 90 degrees in flight mode, allowing it to face forward. (Image Credit: Alef Aeronautics)
I’ve been in so many accidents driving on a 2D plane that I can’t even imagine the disasters that await us in the vertical 3rd dimension!
It’s been a long time coming, but California-based startup Alef Aeronautics finally revealed its Model A two-passenger flying car at the Detroit Auto Show. During the event, the company said its electric Model A goes on pre-sale for a $1,500 deposit during the first quarter of 2024, with deliveries taking place in the fourth quarter of 2025. With a $300,000 price tag, the flying car will be road-certified and have vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Alef is among one of the other manufacturers based in the US, Europe, and Asia that plans to bring flying cars to the streets within the next few years. Those cars include the Samson Switchblade, Aska A5, Doroni H1, Klein Vision AirCar, and Pal V Liberty.
While the prototype didn’t fly, drive, or open its doors, the company only revealed the exterior design at the show. The car doesn’t have a final version set in place yet, but it’s getting closer to that point. There are four wheels housed in the vehicle’s underbody, and they have their own motor for flying. It also has eight propellers with a software-controlled electric propulsion system, spinning them at varying speeds to provide control and redundancy.
The car travels up to 200 miles on the road and 110 miles in the air. (Image Credit: Alef Aeronautics)
The car’s conveyance is 7 feet wide, 17 feet long, and 6 feet tall and easily fits inside a garage or parking space. More impressively, the Model A has a 200-mile driving range on the road and a 110-mile flight range. Learning how to fly or drive the car only takes fifteen minutes or less because it comes with the up, down, right, left, front, and back controls.
However, the legal rules for using the car aren’t very clear, so the company plans to work with local authorities to come up with a solution. Right now, NASA is coming up with a long-term solution for a sky highway accommodating eVTOL taxis, flying cars, and drone delivery services.
For now, only early adopters can have a go at the Model A flying car. That applies to those residing in Silicon Valley, where it can legally fly in specific areas, and Jackson Hole, Wyo, a place with fewer flight mode restrictions. Although the car is assembled at Alef’s California warehouse, the plan is to mass produce it so that it matches the prices of a compact car. If all goes well, Alef will start production by the end of 2025.
Only two passengers can board the Model A flying car, and it can be used for different purposes. (Image Credit: Alef Aeronautics)
The startup has two patents for its flight technology and is working on thinner, lighter tires. It’s also creating a hydrogen version, allowing the car to travel twice as far. The company is exploring a pressurized cabin design so the car can fly even higher.
Of course, the flying car could be used for search and rescue operations, picking up your kids from school, and emergency exits for those who live in island communities. So far, Alef received 2,800 pre-orders for the Model A car.
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