New era of Electric planes and flying cars

 Electric planes and Flying cars set to revolutionise Australian Travel               

Electric flying car and plane are now on the cusp of transforming Australian travel prototypes and developments in this field point to a new era of urban mobility. Electric flying cars and flying planes are no longer the stuff you see in futuristic fantasies, they’re here in Australia and set to transform how we travel across the country. Xpeng’s X2 prototype, a sleek, carbon-fibre electric flying car, was recently showcased in Melbourne. It is capable of flying at 130 km/h but is currently grounded in Australia due to regulations. AMSL Aero’s Vertiia, a hydrogen-powered electric aircraft with an 800-kilometre range, aims to revolutionise emergency services. Commercial operations are expected by 2027. FlyOnE, an Australian pioneer in electric aviation, plans to launch air taxi services and establish an international electric pilot training facility at Latrobe Regional Airport.

Take Xpeng, a Chinese automaker who recently wowed crowds in Melbourne with its X2 prototype - a flying car that looks like something out of The Jetsons. The sleek, carbon-fibre aircraft, powered by eight electric motors, can quietly zoom at 130 km/h, all while the passenger sits back, relaxes and enjoys the ride. With a flight time of 35 minutes, it’s designed for future low-altitude city flights. While it’s not flying here due to regulations, it is currently being flown in Dubai and tested in China. Electric flying car prototype, thought to be the first of its kind to hit Australia. The Xpeng X2 is a pilotless remotely flown two seated car. Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce chief executive Geoff Gwilym said showgoers were excited by the potential of electric flight. “The Xpeng X2 took centre stage, and for good reason,” he said. “This advanced vertical takeoff and landing vehicle offers an interesting peek into the future of low-altitude mobility.” 

Chinese automaker Xpeng recently unveiled its X2 prototype in Melbourne. The sleek, carbon-fibre flying car, reminiscent of *The Jetsons,* is powered by eight electric motors. It can cruise quietly at speeds up to 130 km/h, offering passengers a smooth, futuristic ride. While the X2 can’t fly in Australia yet due to regulations, it has already been flown in Dubai and tested extensively in China. Xpeng isn’t the only company pushing boundaries. Australian start-up AMSL Aero is developing Vertiia, a hydrogen-powered electric aircraft with a range of up to 800 kilometres. Designed for longer journeys, Vertiia could revolutionise emergency services, including aeromedical evacuations in remote areas. Supported by a $3 million federal grant, AMSL Aero received its first commercial order from AirLink this year. The company aims to have Vertiia in service by 2027. This aircraft will be particularly promising for use in emergency services, including aeromedical evacuations in remote areas.

Global automakers are also entering the race. Hyundai and Toyota are also working on electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Hyundai is making significant progress with its Urban Air Mobility (UAM) division under the new brand Supernal. Their eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle is designed for urban travel. The vehicle is fully electric, with a range and speed suitable for intracity travel. Hyundai’s vision goes beyond just the car; the company plans to build an entire ecosystem, including vertiports, air traffic management and passenger services. .

Toyota has invested $349 million in Joby Aviation, a California-based company specializing in electric air taxis. Joby’s aircraft, designed to carry four passengers at speeds of up to 321 km/h, is already undergoing safety testing in the US. Toyota is working to bring this technology to Australia. Toyota’s contribution is not just financial, they’re also offering technological support to help Joby bring its eVTOL aircraft to the market. Joby has already begun safety testing and is working with Australian authorities to bring this technology to Australian skies.

Aside from automakers entering the aviation space, Australian green transport pioneer and leading electric aircraft supplier, FlyOnE has logged over 165,000 kilometres with its electric Pipistrel Electro aircraft. FlyOne plans to launch air taxi services by 2024, operating out of Western Australia and in the Yarra Valley of Victoria. The company also establishes an international electric pilot training facility at Latrobe Regional Airport. “We are excited to lead the charge in sustainable aviation,” said Korum Ellis, Chief Executive of FlyOnE Sustainable Aviation. “Our new pilot training facility and air taxi services will provide eco-friendly travel options and train the next generation of pilots.” The company so far has had over 1600 passenger movements and flown around 165,000 km. Now the company has plans to offer air taxis potentially taking to the skies as early as 2024. The service will offer eco-friendly transportation options connecting key destinations such as Moorabbin, Lilydale, Mount Hotham, Avalon, Torquay, Sale and more. The company has also just completed an MoU to establish a large-scale international electric pilot training facility at Latrobe Regional Airport as part of the Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct. FlyOnE Sustainable Aviation chief executive, Korum Ellis, expressed enthusiasm about the new venture. “We are excited to lead the charge in sustainable aviation with the launch of our international electric pilot training facility and the expansion of our air taxi services. We look forward to shaping the next generation of pilots and providing eco-friendly travel options for our community,” he said.

While the technology for electric flying vehicles is advancing rapidly, there are still significant regulatory hurdles to overcome. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia is currently working to develop the necessary regulations to ensure the safe integration of eVTOLs into Australian airspace. This includes creating specific corridors for flying cars and establishing safety standards that these vehicles must meet before they can operate commercially. As these technologies continue to develop, the next few years will likely see electric planes and flying cars becoming a common sight in Australian skies. Electric flying vehicles will become standard in Australian skies as technology advances.