From drones to superfast air carriers, we know that many exciting things happen in the air. The sight of airplanes is common in our busy country, but have you ever spotted an air taxi? If the answer is no, don’t worry - Lilium is here.
Lilium is a German air mobility startup founded by Daniel Wiegand. The company’s vision is to create a "sustainable and accessible mode of high-speed travel for every community."
Like airplanes need airports, air taxis need vertiports. It's a zone where they can vertically take off and land. Additionally, these vertiports furnish the advanced infrastructure required for housing and charging eVTOLs.
It sounds futuristic, but is it practical? And can it replace our daily commutes? That is where Lilium comes into the picture with its smaller and smarter vertiports. The company even uses natural resources and daylight to make the vertiports sustainable.
Lilium is all set to disrupt the rideshare industry by making air taxis accessible for all. The company is already checking boxes like sustainability, on-demand economy, and affordability. And in the coming years, we can expect its business to soar higher.
Now that Lilium has announced its first-ever vertiport in the US, our rideshare blog explains why you should be excited about it.
Lilium, AECOM, and Ferrovial - The Golden Partnership
Cutting-edge planes and airports aren’t a thing of fiction anymore. After Lilium’s vertiport announcement made it to the news, people are excited to learn how this dream is becoming a reality. The mobility giants have partnered with two top construction firms - AECOM and Ferrovial - for the vertiport.
Ferrovial, a sustainable infrastructure MNC, is tasked with developing emission-free solutions. It’s a reputable organization whose airports have been a pivotal part of the aviation sector.
AECOM, a Fortune 500 firm, will make the vertiport more aesthetic and efficient. It'll be involved right from planning and design to engineering and construction.
Now, these construction companies are all set to design a state-of-the-art vertiport. It will house eco-friendly, high-speed, and affordable transportation air taxis. More importantly, these ultra-modern vertiports will sustainably improve connectivity.
Why Is Orlando a Strategic Location?
We believe that the dwellers of Orlando are already living an avant-garde life. The city is known for its advancement in technology, innovation, and growth. How can they take this a notch higher? Air taxis, right?
The Orlando city administration was searching for air mobility services to improve transportation. At the same time, Lilium was looking for a suitable place to establish its first vertiport in the US.
When Orlando's administration published an air mobility white paper, Lilium wasted no time. They forged a deal and signed on the dotted line to build a futuristic eVTOL station.
When it comes to flying, climate factors also play a role. You don't want cloudy and thunderous skies to freak out the passengers. The perfect blend of Orlando's geographical features and climate is what Lilium wanted. Moreover, the densely populated state of Florida made it suitable for expansion.
It’s not just the topography that grabbed Lilium's attention. Orlando city's enthusiasm for technological advancement was another major driving force.
These are a few reasons why the Central Florida market is an excellent testing ground for modern transportation systems. The state is one of the nation’s highest visited locations and biggest car rental markets. Florida will breathe life into Lilium’s plans of taking regional air mobility worldwide.
Lake Nona - The Hub of Revolution
Lake Nona is defined as the “Future of Cities” by Fortune Magazine. We couldn't agree more as the locality is already far ahead of its time.
Lilium, along with Tavistock Development Company, has plans of building its vertiport in this prime locality. The aesthetic and scalable vertiport will parallel Orlando International Airport within Lake Nona.
Tavistock’s innovative designs and planning skills will assist in Lilium’s mission. Furthermore, it could be an essential cog for establishing the city's high-speed air mobility system.
How Will Lilium's Vertiport Fuel the Rideshare Industry’s Growth?
Rideshare service is a savior for people who don't own vehicles and hate driving in traffic. Lilium believes in providing rideshare options at an affordable cost. After all, pricing is a factor that will determine the air taxis business’s success. We are relieved that these rideshare flight fares are easy on the pocket.
The next logical question is about their ecological footprint. With concern for the environment growing among all sections of society, Lilium is taking the right steps. It aims to operate zero-carbon vertiports and build sustainable air taxis. Without a doubt, these eVTOLs can create a win-win situation for everyone.
The Future of Lilium’s Us Operations
Lilium's vertiport is on the verge of revolutionizing our rideshare business. The air taxi maker could be an answer for all problems in the on-demand economy. It has affordability, sustainability, and ease of use at the forefront.
There were concerns of performance issues and their slow pace in the last few years. But Lilium’s vertiport announcement has managed to silence most critics. As far as performance is concerned, the company released its eVTOL’s successful test flight. With this, it’s safe to say that the company sees the light at the end of the tunnel.
Lilium has announced that by 2024, its air taxis will fly across Florida. With Lilium's air taxis and vertiport shaping the US’s rideshare market, the sky's truly the limit for us.
Another firm is silently making strides in the world of ridesharing and eVTOLs. Find out all about this California-based company in our recent blog post.
