Flying Car Takes Flight in California
The future of personal transportation may have arrived. Alef Aeronautics has developed the Model Zero, a $300,000 electric car that can actually fly. The company demonstrated its capabilities with a video showing the prototype taking off and flying over another car in California.
This vehicle stands out from traditional eVTOLs (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicles) because it remains fully functional on the ground as a car. With the Model Zero, drivers have the option to travel by road or by air.
The car’s design is decidedly futuristic, with a domed cabin and rounded, silver edges.
Specs and Safety
The company’s first commercial model, the Alef Model A, will have a driving range of 200 miles and a flying range of 110 miles and is expected to hit the market soon. However, road travel comes with some limitations; the car’s ground speed is capped at 25 mph.
Safety features include an obstacle detection system and a ballistic parachute. The Model Zero received permission for test flights in April 2024.
The Future of Flying Cars
Alef has ambitious plans, including launching the Model Z, a four-seater flyer, by 2035. Additional developments further suggest the flying car market is on the rise. A Florida-based company plans to produce flying cars in Saudi Arabia, and China aims to have 100,000 flying cars in operation by the end of the decade.
