China’s Chery unveils autonomous flying car

 Chery unveils flying car, completes 50-mile successful test flight      

Chinese automaker Chery unveiled its flying car, which is able to support full autonomous driving, at its innovation conference, as it looks to carve out a competitive edge in the global automotive market. The flying car, named ‘Land and Air Vehicle’, is designed without a steering wheel and comes with full autonomous driving capabilities. Chery’s unmanned flying car had flown 50 miles successfully.

Chinese automobile manufacturer Chery flying car prototype was unveiled at this year’s Chery Global Innovation Conference held in Anhui, China. The prototype, named ‘Land and Air Vehicle’, is designed without a steering wheel or accelerator and comes with full autonomous driving capabilities. The futuristic vehicle has already completed a 50-mile test flight successfully. With the newest innovation, the company aims to strengthen its position in the global automotive market. Apart from an absent steering wheel, this three-body hybrid-wing flying car is designed without a gas pedal and comprises three components: the aircraft, the intelligent cockpit and the intelligent chassis. 

According to Chery, the flying car can switch between autonomous flying and land driving modes, making it suitable for short-distance commuting in urban areas to help evade traffic congestion. In flying mode, it is capable of vertical takeoff and landing. The futuristic vehicle, without a steering wheel or accelerator, has already completed a successful test flight distance of 80 km's. In recent years, numerous flying car projects have been announced, mostly by companies based in China. However, only a few have advanced beyond the conceptual stage, and even fewer have been successfully tested with passengers on board. It may take years before such vehicles are put to operational use. The flying car boasts dual modes for both road driving and aerial travel, allowing seamless transitions between land and air, a move Chery claimed could help reduce traffic congestion in cities.

As part of the innovation conference, Chery also announced the rollout of its advanced all solid state battery, along with the launch of a new battery brand named Kunpeng. Chery's broader strategy includes the rollout of advanced battery technology, as the company plans to introduce all-solid-state batteries for targeted operations by 2026 and mass production by 2027. While Kunpeng will debut with three series of batteries capable of 6C charging; the company is expecting to achieve an energy density of 400 Wh/kg with the solid state batteries by the end of this year, increasing it to 600 Wh/kg by 2025. The first car application of the solid state batteries is scheduled for 2026, followed by initial batch production in 2027, giving EVs a potential range of 1,500 km.

The three battery series under Kunpeng are square lithium iron phosphate, square ternary and large cylindrical ternary. The square ternary batteries are designed for EVs with a range of 600-800 km and for PHEVs and EREVs with all-electric ranges of 150-300 km. They offer an energy density of 140-200 Wh/kg, support temperatures from -40°C to 65°C, and enable 2C-6C charging. The large cylindrical series, aimed at EVs with a range of 700-1200 km and PHEVs and EREVs with 150-300 km all-electric ranges, also supports 2C-6C charging. The battery series is expected to be integrated into its NEVs (new energy vehicles) in the near future. In September, Chery sold over 60,000 NEVs out of a total sales of 244,534 vehicle. Yin Tongyue, chairman of the company, anticipates reaching 80,000 NEV sales this month and 100,000 by year’s end. Kunpeng series can handle over 3,000 charging cycles and features multi-section energy-absorbing technology for rapid directional pressure relief in just one second. Chery also demonstrated the resilience of its cells, showing that a cell with a cut corner remained operational. All-solid-state batteries offer higher theoretical energy density and safety, and entail lower costs than lithium-ion batteries which currently dominate the electric vehicle sector. Hence, many countries consider them a potentially game-changing technology.