Alef Aeronautics’ Model Zero Successfully Executes Vertical Takeoff
Model Zero, the world’s first flying car, has showcased its vertical takeoff capabilities in newly released footage, marking a pivotal moment in air mobility.
In a video released by US-based Alef Aeronautics, the Model Zero, described by some as a scene from a sci-fi movie, demonstrates its ability to take off vertically. Unlike helicopters, or other flying car concepts designed to operate in a similar manner, the Model Zero aligns with initial depictions of flying cars. Formally classified as an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL), the Alef car can take off using electric power much like a drone, and requires no runway.
The footage shows the car driving on a street, then smoothly lifting off and hovering over a parked vehicle, a key achievement in the realm of urban air mobility.
The Model Zero: A Vision for the Future
Alef’s Model Zero has been developed to transition easily from road to air. The tests took place in San Mateo, California, where the car hovered over a parked vehicle before landing and continuing its journey. The vehicle uses eight concealed rotors—four in the front and four in the back—hidden within its mesh-like body, which enables the vertical takeoff. For safety, the tests were conducted on closed roads with a lightweight version of the car.
According to the CEO of Alef, Jim Dukhovny, this achievement is similar to the significance of the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk.
The Model Zero’s design sets it apart with its mesh-like exterior housing the electric motors. Its body can rotate 90 degrees when airborne, turning its roof into a wing. This design allows for a car-like profile on the road. The car is designed to carry one person, has a driving range of 320 km and a flight range of 160 km, with a maximum road speed of 40 km/h.
Alef Aeronautics is preparing to move its Model A flying car from prototype to production, with 3,330 pre-orders and a price of $299,999 (approximately Rs 2.62 crore) per unit. Production is expected to begin next year, and the company plans to launch the Model Z, a four-seater car, by 2035, though experts remain cautious about regulatory and technological challenges.
