People have been dreaming about flying cars for almost 180 years at this point. The first known patent for a flying car dates back to 1841. Even though we’ve seen hundreds of prototypes – some of which even managed to take flight - we’ve never actually seen a commercial flying car.
But did you know that now, more than 20 companies are working on their own prototype? This includes major players like Porsche, Boeing, and Uber. Why’s this happening now?
Today, we’re going to talk about our chances of getting commercial flying cars in the next two decades. Next, we’ll discuss how scientists are bringing the concept of flying vehicles to life. And finally, we’ll see what are some of the obstacles manufacturers need to bypass to make flying cars a reality.
When Could We Expect Flying Cars?
The biggest question on everyone’s mind is, how long will we have to wait to see a flying car? It’s on the people making them. For example, Uber has been working on the concept of “aerial ride-sharing” for a few years. The project titled “Uber Elevate” has just entered the next phase.
At the moment, the company is working with its stakeholders on creating a ridesharing network in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Melbourne. The vehicle is called VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) and it looks and functions similarly to a helicopter. Other companies aren’t too far behind.
For example, AeroMobil, a Slovakian startup is currently taking pre-orders for its flying car prototype. They believe that they’ll be able to get it out on the market in just 3 years. Porsche and Boeing, both believe that they'll have models on the market before 2025.
How Would Flying Cars Even Work?
Let’s back up for a second. Why are so many cars being developed in the first place? Tech advancements like more precise guiding systems and improved communication systems played a huge part. But the main reason why so many companies are working on flying cars is the new battery technology.
While some experts think that we are still a few decades away from it being a reality, most feel like they’ll usher in a new era of travel during this decade. There are many new technologies in development like:
Nickel-iron batteries
Lithium-oxygen batteries
Magnesium batteries
How will these vehicles look and work? With the exception of AeroMobil 4.0 and Terrafugia Transition which are actual cars that can be driven on the road, all other prototypes out there can’t be maneuvered on the ground and look more like flying vehicles.
Some models, like the one Hyundai is manufacturing for Uber, have multiple propellers and look similar to large drones. However, their engines are much quieter, since they work on batteries. Others have wings and take flight similarly to planes.
Three Obstacles Flying Cars Need to Overcome
If flying cars become a reality at some point in this decade, we might be looking at a complete transportation revolution. But there are certain things flying car manufacturers need to address before this can become a reality. Here are 3 obstacles the flying car industry needs to avoid …
The Price
A problem commonly associated with flying cars is the price. Let’s take a look at AeroMobil again. In a conversation on the Talking Tech podcast, a company representative explained that the first model will come with a $1.3 million price tag.
While manufacturing costs in the automotive business have gone down significantly in the past few decades, the same can’t be said for the aviation industry. These are aircrafts after all and composite materials needed for flight are often hand-made and cost a lot of money.
Pollution/Safety
To reduce carbon emissions they would need to create 100% electric vehicles. Even though some companies are trying to achieve this, researchers are still skeptical. According to Dr. Gary Fuller, it’s a physics problem. Flying requires more energy than surface transport. So, complete sustainability is unlikely.
Another big problem is safety. Multiple engines produce enough power to keep the vehicle airborne, even if a few fail. A far bigger safety threat are cybercriminals. An autonomous flying vehicle especially would be an easy target for an experienced hacker, so cybersecurity should be a top priority.
Laws and Regulations
As you probably noticed, categorizing what flying cars are is not easy. Just think about the legislators that need to devise laws and regulations about these vehicles and flights. One solution is to put them under the same rules as airplanes and helicopters. The FAA already did it for Terrafugia Transition.
The problem with this is that not all flying cars can be viewed as light aircraft. For instance, to register a flying car as light-sport aircraft, the vehicle needs to seat a maximum of two people, house a single-engine, and abide by a speed limitation. Most flying cars weren’t designed with these guidelines in mind.
Will We Ever Have Flying Cars?
We’re left with the question, will we see flying cars in the near future? Well, it depends on several factors and how well the companies working on flying vehicles manage to address the problems we outlined above, then yes. Here’s what the companies need to address soon:
Mass production could possibly lower the manufacturing costs and retail price
Security software and battery tech advancements can address safety and pollution
Help legislators come up with the rules and principles for regulating flying cars
If you’re in a hurry and don’t have the time to wait for flying cars to be fully developed and deployed, you should settle for a normal ride. And if you need rideshare in Nashville, download the Dover app from the App Store or Google Play and catch a ride now.
