Flying cars in Dubai are already a reality
In the United Arab Emirates they turned fiction into reality
In 2017, in Dubai, a project was developed that could make that fantasy come true in a short time. The autonomous air taxi, called volocopter or E-volo, is an electric vehicle that has 18 rotary-wing drones and was created by the German company Volocopter for Dubai.
It can carry two people, has a flight limit of up to 30 minutes, with a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour and will offer a fast method of travel.
Long queues on highways won't stop you, and you'll reduce travel times from busier areas.
For example, you can transport people from the airport to corporate buildings in the city. Being electric, it is free from fossil fuels and creates incredibly low noise levels compared to airplanes and helicopters.
The volocopters are two meters high and seven meters wide, including the perimeter formed by the drones, and have nine spare batteries that can be quickly charged.
They comply with all global aviation safety guidelines: they have emergency parachutes and various spare kits.
This project aims to foster a metropolitan air transport environment that makes it easier for taxis to join Dubai's air systems.
For this to work, airports, take-off and landing areas in business zones, buildings and different public transport systems will be created to connect users with other mobility services.
In addition, in a few years, to expand the number of routes of the volocopters and have a flow of passengers, hubs would be built, a mixture of a train station with a stop for the air system.
Like Uber or Beat, the service will have an app and can be booked or requested immediately. The flight tests of the volocopters have been positive and have passed the tests, it could be available in the middle of this year.
Advanced technology service
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority has launched an extraordinary management program to address the difficulties of disabled people in using the city's transport.
To more easily serve this population, the system of metro and tram stations has been modified.
Today they have necessary variations as required by each vulnerable group, in addition to the creation of a free ticket card.
In order to help the blind population, the stations have textured tracks, which interconnect the entrance gates with the boarding areas.
There are short-term use wheelchairs and elevators, as well as ample space in the entrance and exit areas of the station.
The eVTOL Fly
The eVTOL, which looks like a Formula 1 car, has already completed its first eight tests in Dubai.
Bellwether Industries has unveiled the Volar model, a flamboyant eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft) in sports car guise, which has now successfully completed its practice runs in Dubai.
Like something out of a sci-fi movie, this vehicle will airlift the city's extremely wealthy people who can afford its cost.
The London-based company did not reveal many details regarding the new project, however, it did mention that Volar is intended for private metropolitan flights.
It has a boost and landing structure under its streamlined body, which looks a lot like a rocket from a space movie.
Although a 1:2 scale model was used for the eight tests that were carried out and with a speed of only 40 kilometers per hour, the company has guaranteed that the last model to be promoted will be as a luxury personal plane, having the option to ascend to a height of 915 meters and with a maximum speed of 220 kilometers.
Kai-Tse Lin, CEO and co-founder of Bellwether Industries, assured that they are open to any type of energy source, however, the entire vehicle system will be electric.
The company intends to make another adaptation of this model of the Bellwether Volar this year and hopes to announce the last prototype by 2028. Although the cost has not yet been mentioned, it has been said that it will start in the seven figures.