Eve's Air Mobility eVTOL: The Flying Taxi for the Impatient, But Wealthy Commuter
Image Credit: Eve.
It seems like everyone and their dog is jumping on the flying taxi bandwagon these days. The latest to join the aerial party is Eve Air Mobility, a Florida-based company with a prototype that looks like a cross between a drone and a Cessna.
I'm all for innovation, but this eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) contraption has me both intrigued and slightly amused. It looks as if someone took a regular airplane, chopped off the wings, and stuck a bunch of propellers on top. It's certainly not winning any beauty contests, but really, do we need good looks when you can fly over traffic jams?
Image Credit: Eve.
Eve is claiming a 60-mile (100 km) range on a single charge, which is about the distance from my house to the nearest Krispy Kreme. Perfect for those days when I'm craving a sugary fix and can't be bothered with the freeway. But before you start planning your aerial doughnut runs, keep in mind that this prototype is still a work in progress. It's currently being flown remotely, like a giant toy helicopter, but Eve hopes to have it carrying passengers by 2026.
Speaking of passengers, the interior is designed to accommodate four of them, plus one very lucky pilot. No word yet on whether they'll offer in-flight entertainment, but I'm hoping for a karaoke machine and a disco ball. After all, why settle for a boring commute when you can have a party in the sky?
Image Credit: Eve.
Now, for the technical details. This bad boy has eight propellers for vertical takeoff and landing, and another one in the back for horizontal flight. It's a clever aerial Transformer, switching between modes depending on whether it's going up or forward. And unlike some of its eVTOL rivals, Eve has opted for fixed propellers and wings, which should theoretically make it quieter and cheaper to manufacture.
Eve hasn't released any official pricing figures yet, but you can be sure this is not going to be your average Uber ride. We're talking luxury transportation for the elite, the kind of folks who think nothing of spending a small fortune on a handbag or a pair of shoes.
But even if you do want to buy one, you actually can’t. At least not just yet. Instead, you can put your name on the waiting list. A very very long waiting list. It seems like everyone and their mother wants a piece of the flying taxi action, with Eve boasting a whopping 2,900 pre-orders from 30 customers in 13 countries. That's enough to fill a fleet of flying taxis and then some! And enough to keep Eve busy for years to come.
Image Credit: Eve.
So, is this the future of transportation? It's definitely more exciting than sitting in traffic. With so many companies on the market vying for the attention, and some bringing flying taxis already to the market, it really starts looking like our transport solutions are moving up. Few years ago it was pie in the sky, and now? Now, I’m looking forward to my first ride.
