World's First Flying Car Is Now Ready To Take Off; Here's How Much It Will Cost
In a video on YouTube on Feb. 21, US-based Alef Aeronautics showcased the Alef Model Zero flying car prototype, which was built with the aim to "soar above gridlock."
The future of urban mobility has arrived with the launch of Alef Aeronautics' Model Zero, the world's first electric flying car. The vehicle, which looks straight out of a science-fiction movie, was captured taking its first-ever city drive and vertical takeoff in California, United States.
This successful demonstration solidifies the vehicle’s ability to transition from road driving to vertical flight, which is a significant milestone in transportation innovation.
In a video on YouTube on Feb. 21, US-based Alef Aeronautics showcased the Alef Model Zero flying car prototype, which was built with the aim to "soar above gridlock."
The test flight, which was reportedly conducted in San Mateo, showed the vehicle successfully hovering over a stationary vehicle on a public road. Each tyre comes with an individual motor for the car's drive mode. The model has dimensions similar to an SUV to make it suitable for parking.
Like a scene straight out of a video game, the sleek black car effortlessly lifts off the ground, hovering above another vehicle. It then glides across the sky before gently descending and landing back on the road, which kicks up dust all around.
On the historic achievement, Alef Aeronautics CEO Jim Dukhovny told urdesign magazine: "We hope it will be a moment similar to the Wright Brothers' Kitty Hawk video…"
For the test, Alef Aeronautics used an ultra-light version of the Model Zero. The road, which was used as the test site, was also closed to prevent any mishap. In another test, the car is seen flying above another vehicle across a vast, open area.
The vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle model uses electric power for vertical ascent. This is done by using the same mechanism used to lift off a drone or helicopter, thereby eliminating the need for a runway. The vehicle reportedly has the potential for autonomous operation.
Watch The Video Here:
The commercial version, Alef Model A, has about 3,200 pre-orders, according to the company website. The expected price of the vehicle is about $299,999 or around Rs 2.61 crore (based on today's exchange rate), the website showed.
A 2023 report from Yahoo reveals that the concept for the car was originally sketched out on a napkin in a Silicon Valley coffee shop back in 2015. The prototype was first showcased at the Detroit Auto Show in September 2023.
Alef Aeronautics CEO Jim Dukhovny is the son of famous musician and poet Leonid Dukhovny. Back in the 2023 auto show, Dukhovny was quoted as saying that anyone who knows the difference between right, left, up, down, front, and back can drive this car.
