The future of mobility will also be in the sky. This statement is not our own imagination, but the result of many studies that have been published over the years environment with flying taxis and other electric aircraft.
Stellantis, which like many big automotive groups now wants to be a “mobility player” rather than just a “car maker”, intends to add its stone to the building. The group will also perform on the 54ththousand The Paris Air Show, which will be held from June 19 to 25, the latest evolution of the Midnight eVTOLdeveloped jointly with the American company Archer.
Arriving in our skies in 2025?
The cooperation between Stellantis and Archer has already made it possible to create the first flying prototypes of the Midnight eVTOL, a kind of huge electric drone for transporting people. At the end of last year, the first prototypes were also able to fly for the test phases.
The presence of the flying taxi at the world’s most important air show will allow both partners to share with the public and industry insiders “Progress towards full-scale production of Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft”.
Thus, the first fruits of the partnership announced in January 2023 can be seen in the Air Mobility area in Hall 5 of Le Bourget airport. Although Archer is apparently responsible for the development of the aircraft, Stellantis provides significant financial supportas well as “advanced technologies and production skills” and experienced staff.
Archer is responsible for the design, development, certification and marketing of the Midnight eVTOL. This is an electric plane that can take off and land vertically. It has twelve propellers driven by twelve electric motors and powered by six batteries.
No more expensive than a taxi ride?
The goal is to provide round-trip flights of up to 30 km with a charging time of 12 minutes. The plane accommodates the pilot and four passengers, as well as their luggage.
On paper, promises are good because The aircraft can fly up to 240 km/h and has a range of approximately 160 km on a single charge. According to the designers, the fare is comparable “for those from the depot”.
Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.