Latest news with #ModelZero
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
US flying car ambitions take off, but can they fix Bay Area traffic?
If any place in the United States embodies the convergence of science fiction and reality, it's Silicon Valley. Alef Aeronautics is one of several Bay Area companies competing to combine the two in the automotive market with flying vehicles. In February, the company, based in San Mateo, south of San Francisco, unveiled a prototype of its flying car, Model Zero, at the Silicon Valley Auto Show. Soon after, the company demonstrated its ability to lift off. Archer Aviation, based further south in San Jose, showcased its electric air taxi at San Francisco International Airport in early April, while Aska in Mountain View and Joby Aviation in Santa Cruz are also working on air mobility solutions. Alef's founders believe they will be the first to produce a vehicle capable of both ground transportation and vertical takeoff. The fully electric Alef flying car can climb as high as 305 to 610 metres, developers claim, by using its entire body as an airfoil, or wing shape, during flight, a process enabled by cabin rotation, Alef co-founder Constantine Kisly explained. It has a flight range of 177 kilometres and a driving range of 321 kilometres. For safety, the vehicle employs a redundant multirotor system, meaning it has several independent motors to ensure stable flight and controlled landings. Currently operating in a semi-autonomous mode, Alef is developing fully autonomous models. Which government body would regulate such an effort by Alef is still under discussion. While the Federal Aviation Administration would most likely be involved, the California Department of Motor Vehicles would also need to be considered because the car still operates as a ground-based vehicle. As futuristic as the concept sounds, the Bay Area's entrenched transit problems — fragmented infrastructure, heavy congestion and high costs — raise questions about whether flying cars will be a practical solution or just another luxury item for the wealthy. 'One of the big, unsolved challenges in society is traffic,' Kisly said. Kisly said traditional commuter solutions focus on underground systems like tunnels and subways or on-ground infrastructure such as highways and public transit. 'But few have looked to the sky,' he said. 'We have small aviation and big aviation, but nothing that really covers the commuting range — say, 30 to 100 miles (48 to 161 kilometres). That's exactly the space we're targeting. And the question is: Who's going to use it? Who's going to occupy that space? We believe it's going to be us, because it's a perfect fit.' Alef's prototype has already attracted attention, securing more than 3,300 pre-orders and backing from high-profile venture capitalist Tim Draper, an early Tesla investor. But skepticism remains. During a recent episode of 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,' the comedian dismissed the vehicle, joking it looked like 'Lightning McQueen got canceled and rebounded by starting his own energy drink company.' Other critics have also chimed in, arguing that flying cars are unlikely to become an accessible transit option for today's average commuter. 'It's interesting to imagine that one day you might be able to take to the air the way some people take helicopters to the airport,' said Adina Levin, co-founder of transit advocacy group Seamless Bay Area. 'There's already a market for that — people with private jets, corporate jets, or those who can afford a helicopter ride to a ballgame.' She doesn't see flying cars becoming 'something accessible to the general public anytime soon.' 'It's still very much a luxury,' Levin added. Currently, Alef's Model Zero is priced at $300,000. Kisly said the company hopes to lower the cost over time, eventually making flying cars available at a price comparable to a regular sedan. For Levin, the solution to the Bay Area's transit woes lies not in the skies, but in a more cohesive, ground-based system. Bay Area public transit remains fragmented across multiple agencies and jurisdictions, making it difficult for riders to navigate. Levin believes ongoing regional efforts, such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Plan Bay Area 2050+, will be key to solving congestion and connectivity challenges. 'Around the world, there are many examples of regions that have multiple transit agencies,' she said. 'But they also have a network management organization that coordinates them.' The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which oversees regional transit planning, is working to improve the interconnectedness of Bay Area transit systems. 'It's designed to identify long-range strategies for the next 25 years to make the Bay Area more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant,' said Dave Vautin, MTC's director of regional planning. Vautin acknowledged that while emerging technologies like flying cars are part of the broader conversation, infrastructure challenges make widespread adoption unlikely in the near future. 'That's obviously a hot topic in transportation planning right now,' he said. 'In the '60s and '70s, there were helicopter lines within the Bay Area, but they ultimately fizzled out. It's interesting to consider the parallels — and the challenges the private sector faced in making those services viable back then.' Public transportation expert Michael Ostrovsky, an economics professor at Stanford University, believes the future of transportation will require both traditional and emerging solutions. 'I no longer think of this as science fiction. We are in the research phase, but the technology is here,' Ostrovsky said. However, he emphasized that traditional public transit will remain essential. 'You can't get away from the fact that a train can carry a huge number of people very efficiently,' he said. 'That's not going to change even with the latest technologies.'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Incredible footage shows Batmobile-like flying car soaring above traffic: 'It will be a moment similar to the Wright Brothers' Kitty Hawk video'
California-based Alef Aeronautics has successfully tested its bizarre electric flying car more than a year and a half after it made headlines for its progress. On the ground, it looks sort of like the 1960s Batmobile. In the air, spectators might mistake it for a flying saucer. It's strangely sleek and outlandish at the same time, largely due to its mostly mesh exterior, according to photos shared by Electrek. But none of the visuals matter much as long as it can fly. A 53-second clip shared on YouTube by Urdesign proves the concept. The long, flat vehicle with a circular cockpit is shown flying what looks like around 12 feet in the air, easily clearing other vehicles. "This drive and flight test represents an important proof of technology in a real-world city environment," Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny said in a Urdesignmag story. The car is designed to soar over traffic jams, going from the road to the air seamlessly without a runway. It's sort of like the electric vertical takeoff and landing taxis by Archer Aviation and other companies that are beginning flights. Alef's Model Zero leverages electric power for liftoff with rotors. An ultra-light version was used for testing, all per Urdesignmag. The article provides an apt description of its appearance: Its "mesh exterior conceals four rotors in the front and four in the rear, replacing a typical engine to provide lift. The passenger cabin is centrally located on a pivoting platform." While the contraption can essentially long jump gridlock — a time-saving move shown in an Alef rendering — the prototype won't outrun many cars. It goes about 25 miles per hour, per Urdesignmag. Electrek listed its driving range at 220 miles, with a flight ability of 110 miles — all with electric power. Battery-powered tech continues to advance. The median electric vehicle range for model year 2023 is 270 miles, according to the U.S. government. That's far above the typical American's daily commute of just under 40 miles, Kelley Blue Book reported. Charge times are also becoming shorter, as fast stalls such as Tesla's Superchargers are open to most models (with an adapter) and can provide a couple hundred miles in around 15 minutes. Alef, Archer, and others are providing EV versions of what could become common, cleaner urban conveyances. The Megalux is another example. It's a solar-powered, boatlike car that was showcased at a United Arab Emirates tech event. But it's more demonstrative than practical. Model Zero is meant to enter the market, though Urdesignmag labeled it as Alef's "long-term vision." The company's leaders have already earned some government flight certificates as testing continues. The ambitious goal is to have a flight-capable, four-person sedan on the market by 2035 at a cost of around $35,000. Could flying cars ever become our main transportation method? No way Maybe in 100 years Maybe in 50 years It could happen soon Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The company's more commercial design, the Model A, reportedly has more than 3,300 preorders already in place at a projected cost of $299,999, all per Urdesignmag. Another big win for EVs is efficiency and heat-trapping air pollution reduction. A popular Tesla Model 3 is up to three times more efficient than even a hybrid Toyota Prius, according to EnergySage. Each EV that replaces a gas-guzzler prevents thousands of pounds of tailpipe exhaust from being spewed annually. The fumes are linked to cancer, lung, heart, and other health risks, all according to government emissions and medical data. Switching to an EV can save you up to $1,500 on gas and maintenance costs annually, in addition to tax breaks to help with the purchase. Soon, you might be able to save some time by simply flying over traffic congestion if Alef's vision comes to fruition. "We hope it will be a moment similar to the Wright Brothers' Kitty Hawk video, proving to humanity that new transportation is possible," Dukhovny said, per Urdesignmag. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This might be the first vehicle that drives and flies
Alef Aeronautics has shared the first video of its flying car, Model Zero. CEO Jim Dukhovny hopes this innovation will prove the viability of flying cars and create a new market in transportation, according to Reuters. Sign in to access your portfolio
CNN
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- CNN
This might be the first vehicle that drives and flies
Alef Aeronautics has shared the first video of its flying car, Model Zero. CEO Jim Dukhovny hopes this innovation will prove the viability of flying cars and create a new market in transportation, according to Reuters.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
World's first flying car hops over vehicle in public test
A US startup has demonstrated an airborne vehicle that it claims to be the world's first flying car. Alef Aeronautics released a video of its Model Zero prototype flying over a parked car on a public road in California, marking the first real-world test of the design concept. 'This drive and flight test represents an important proof of technology in a real-world city environment,' said Alef Aeronautics chief executive Jim Dukhovny. 'We hope it will be a moment similar to the Wright Brothers' Kitty Hawk video, proving to humanity that new transportation is possible.' Most 'flying car' startups use a similar design to quadcopter drones, with external rotor blades setting them apart from current road-going cars. Others have adopted fold-down wings, which require a lot of space to take off. The Alef Model Zero has a more conventional automotive design, which hides the rotor blades within the chassis of the car. The startup said its 100 per cent electric car has a driving range of 320 kilometres and a flight range of around 160km. Founded in 2015 – the same year flying cars were envisioned in the 1989 sci-fi film Back to the Future Part II – Alef Aeronautics hopes to eventually produce a vehicle that is 'affordable for most people, not just the rich'. The company has already secured more than 3,300 pre-orders for its Model A vehicle, which is expected to enter production later this year. A manufacturing agreement to fulfil these orders has already been reached with PUCARA Aero and MYC, a joint venture that has produced aviation-grade parts for Airbus and Boeing. Prices for Alef's Model A start at around $300,000 (£237,000), though a second flying car dubbed the Model Z is expected to cost around $35,000. 'Designed to drive on the street, take off vertically when needed and fly overhead above traffic, we're building the solution to the issues of modern congestion,' the company's website states. 'It fits into a regular driving lane and conforms to all traffic regulatory conditions. Alef flying car fits into a regular parking space and inside a regular-sized garage.' Sign in to access your portfolio
