Honda's Hush-Hush Air Taxi: Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? Nope, it's a Honda!
Image Credit: Honda.
Honda, the geniuses behind the Civic and the Accord, are taking to the skies. Apparently, they've been secretly working on an electric air taxi, or eVTOL, as the cool kids call it. And guess what? They've just gotten the green light from the FAA to start testing a prototype.
Honda's been pretty tight-lipped about this whole project. It's been shrouded in secrecy, like the recipe for Coca-Cola or the location of Jimmy Hoffa. But, thanks to some intrepid reporting (and a little help from the internet), I've managed to uncover some juicy details.
This futuristic flying machine is rumored to have eight propellers for vertical lift, kind of like a super-sized drone. And for those longer journeys, it'll have two rear-mounted propellers for forward propulsion. Oh, and did I mention it might have a hybrid propulsion system with a gas turbine generator? Yep, a gas turbine! Talk about a throwback. But if it gives it a range of 250 miles, I'm not complaining.
Unfortunately, Honda has been playing its cards close to its chest, so the exact dimensions, power outputs, and battery capacity are still under wraps. As for the price, well, let's just say it'll probably cost more than a Honda Civic. But can you really put a price on soaring above the gridlock?
As for performance, Honda claims this thing will be faster than a cheetah in a sugar rush. Okay, maybe not that fast. Still, they're looking at some serious speed. With their expertise in lightweight structures and production technologies? This should be a morning stroll in the park.
Unfortunately for Honda, there are other automakers with their eyes on the skies. Hyundai and Toyota are also throwing their hats into the eVTOL ring. Hyundai's Supernal is planning to test its full-scale prototype in 2025, while Toyota's throwing some serious cash at Joby, a leading eVTOL developer.
Meanwhile, a Chinese company called EHang is already ahead of the game. They've developed a two-person, pilotless eVTOL called the EH216-S, which has already received type certification from China's aviation authority. And they've even tested the world's first solid-state battery in their eVTOL. This new battery tech could nearly double the flight time of the EH216-S, opening up possibilities for aerial logistics and even high-rise firefighting.
Image Credit: Honda.
The future of transportation is looking up, literally. And with Honda joining the eVTOL race, things are about to get a whole lot more interesting. Just in case Honda needs a test pilot for their new flying contraption, I'm off to practice for my pilot's license. You know, I've always wanted to say, "This is your captain speaking."
