Hyundai’s electric flying taxi autonomous will take off in 2028. The Korean automaker has announced a new brand to lead the project.
Supernal is a brand new US-based company that will launch an Uber service with the cars in 2030.
In June, the bosses of the auto company stated that flying cars would be “part of our future” and help reduce traffic congestion.
Electric taxis flying are on the horizon: Hyundai announced that a new brand will lead its electric ride hailing program. Supernal will be looking to launch 2028’s maiden passenger flight.
Company is currently developing a range of electric air vehicle families, likely to be inspired by the S-A1 Hyundai Concept first unveiled in 2020.
The eVTOL is an electronic-powered vehicle capable of vertical take off and landing. It’s similar to Harrier Jump Jets used by the RAF between 1969 and 2010.
S-A1 will be 100 per cent electric, utilising distributed electric propulsion and during peak hours will require about five to seven minutes for recharging.
An electric source power rotors, propellers all around the aeroframe. This increases safety while reducing any chance of failure.
Many smaller rotors reduce noise, which can be very beneficial for cities.
Although the S-A1 is pilotable, Hyundai (and Uber) originally stated that they desired autonomous air taxis.
Four passenger seats are included in the cabin, which allows riders to easily board and disembark. There is enough room for personal bags or backpacks and plenty of space on the middle seat.
Uber and the S-A1 were first to unveil this eVTOL at 2020 Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas. It is capable of landing and taking off vertically.
Hyundai pledged in 2019 to spend 1.8 trillion won (1.5billion dollars) on what it calls ‘urban mobility’ by 2025
Hyundai has revealed a landing pad design for its S-A1 flying taxi in 2019. It was developed with Uber, the ride-hailing giant.
These vehicles won’t be considered a replacement of commercial airplanes. Instead, they will be used specifically for “urban and urban-adjacent route” flights, which fly between cities and pop-up airports.
The aircraft can fly up to 60 miles, has a speed of 180 mph, and can be operated at elevations of 1,000 to 2000 feet.
The company aims to be the first US-certified vehicle by 2024, and then fly commercially four years later.
Announcing the creation of the new brand this week, Jaiwon Shin, chief executive of Supernal and president of Hyundai Motor Group, said: ‘In adding a new dimension to mobility, we are on a mission to transform how people and society move, connect, and live.
“Supernal has bold ambitions, but first to the market is not one.
“We’re working hard to create the best product for the right market. We will use Hyundai Motor Group’s manufacturing capabilities to make sure AAM is affordable to all.
Supernal plans to partner with other partners to accelerate efforts to commercialise flying taxis in the 2030s
This 2020 concept car is capable of a speed up to 180mph while flying at around 1,000-2,000 feet above the ground.
Supernal has a wider goal: to develop advanced air mobility technology and work with public and private stakeholders.
Hyundai has partnered earlier in the year with UK-based start-up Urban-Air Port. This partnership will see it open its eVTOL landing center – called Air-One – next year in Coventry.
Experts say the so-called ‘urban air mobility’ revolution is estimated to be worth almost £1trillion over the next 20 years as companies and authorities invest in eVTOL aircraft and the infrastructure required.
Supernal Chief Technology Officer Ben Diachun stated: “We are developing a viable commercially-viable Advanced Air Mobility product, designing and building our vehicle to highest safety, sound, efficiency and affordability standards.
“Our expanding team of veterans from automotive, aerospace, and deep-tech industries is designing sustainable vehicles that will change the way we live, work, play and travel.
Uber and Hyundai agree that the front seat will be used for pilots in an emergency, but both Uber und Hyundai also believe it is possible to develop autonomous air taxis.
Air taxi hailing: While the S-A1 Concept electric air taxi can be used to make short- and long-haul flights, it is not designed for replacing air travel. It only makes short trips between cities.
During the Hyundai press conference, a model of the Hyundai-Uber Elevate urban taxi concept S-A1 were displayed at the 2020 International Consumer Electronics Show (LAS VEGAS).
Vertical landing and takeoff means that the S-A1 could collect people from many locations.
In Coventry, there are plans to open a new airport that will allow flying taxis to take off earlier in the year.
In January, Hyundai and British company Urban Air Port announced plans to create the first mobile airport in the West Midlands for vehicles flying. It will be located right in the city of West Midlands.
Air-One can be set up in as little as a day and will soon become the world’s smallest airport.
This compact design allows it to be easily installed in urban areas to enable electric air taxis and drones landing and charging their batteries.
According to designers, the temporary spaces will be able to reduce congestion, air pollution and help create a zero carbon future.
Air-One will locate its pop-up airfield in an overflow garage on the A444 opposite the Ricoh Arena 32.609-seater arena.
An airport has a 14-metre landing strip that allows vehicles to touch down at it. It then drops into a hanger, where they can either be charged or taken on passengers.
Coventry City Council and MPs backed the proposals for the zero-emissions airport, which will be located next to the city’s Ricoh Arena, with the project receiving a £1.2million government grant.
Air-One can operate off-grid. It can also be integrated into electric vehicles, according to the UK-based group of design and ‘deeptech companies’ behind it.
It took only days to build and can also be moved easily to new locations, depending on the development of the aviation sector.
Coventry is located near the Ricoh Arena 32.609-seater stadium in an ex-overflow parking area off of the A444.
A 14 metre diameter landing pad is available at the airport. It is much larger than traditional helipads, and therefore can hold helicopters and other eVTOLs.
This platform features an elevated design. After a vehicle has been landed, it moves into the hanger.
You can also push your vehicle to another part of the site. There they can be charged and cleaned.
A small, lit runway is also available.
Designers suggest that the integrated hanger might also include a bookstore or cafe.
Pamela Cohn (chief operating officer of the Urban Air Mobility Division at Hyundai Motor Group) stated that the development of support infrastructure was essential as we move forward with our eVTOL program.
Coventry has a pop-up airport to fly cars, taxis and drones. The West Midlands is the first city to have a site that allows electric flying vehicles to charge, land and collect passengers.
Air-One is an innovative project which is committed to helping develop a reliable, intermodal network of infrastructure for the future of mobility.
“We are thrilled to join this partnership in UK and look forward working together to create community benefit and opportunity through safe and affordable human-centred mobility solutions.”
The airport – which is around 60 per cent smaller than a conventional heliport – will be the first of more than 200 zero emission sites Urban Air Port plans to install worldwide over the next five years.
Malloy Aeronautics from the UK will demonstrate large cargo drones at an airport.
This design is not only designed to reduce congestion and emission in urban areas, but also has disaster recovery management as a focus.
Airports will be a hub of rapid deployment drones, eVTOLs, and other devices that can rapidly collect emergency supplies and equipment, and then transport them to the location where they are needed.
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