Alef Autonautics test Alef Model Zero flying car in field, fully electric vehicle taking off, landing
The popular cartoon series The Jetsons made many hope that they would live in a future with flying cars and robots that cleaned up after them.
Robot vacuums may have become increasingly popular, but flying cars have remained painfully out of reach... until now.
In 2015, US start-up Alef Aeronautics began the development of a flying car.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In their mission, the company set out to make a real car, one that could drive on roads and park in regular car spaces, be capable of vertical take-off and air travel, and they wanted to make it affordable.
Now, 10 years along their journey, the company lifted the veil of their top secret product, letting the eyes of the world see the flying vehicle take flight in a field test.
The company shared a video of their flying development product completing a vertical take-off, travelling a short distance before then completing a vertical landing.
The video also showed the Alef Model Zero “jumping” over another parked car on a street.
The company is still working in a “development and testing phase”, which includes work on the Alef Model Zero, solely used for testing and research, as well as the first consumer model, the Alef Model A.
Alef Aeronautics says the product is 100 per cent electric, providing a clean energy option to travel.
The Alef Moel A is available for pre-order online, however, the company does not say when the vehicle will be ready.
“Alef flying car can be driven on a regular urban or rural road. It fits into a regular driving lane and confines to all traffic regulatory conditions. Alef flying car fits into a regular parking space and inside a regular-sized garage,” the start-up says on its website.
“Alef Model A is a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) which has legal speed and other limitations in most states. The assumption is that, if a driver needs a faster route, a driver will use Alef’s flight capabilities.”
The company says the vehicle should have a range of around 200km if development goes to plan.
The expected price of the so-far unfinished product is listed as $US299,999 ($470,000).
