World’s first fully electric flying car approved by FAA and accepting preorders

NY Post ^ | July 1, 2023 | Brie Stimson

[Twotone]

A California company building a flying electric car is now taking preorders.

Alef Aeronautics’ flying car has been given a Special Airworthiness Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), meaning the company will be allowed to road/air test the car, the company said in a news release.

The fully-electric vehicle (with a hydrogen option for a higher price) is a low-speed vehicle that can be driven up to 200 miles on public roads and fits into a regular garage, but it can also launch vertically into the air with a flying range of 110 miles, according to Alef’s website.

The company’s “Model A” car “can fly forward above the obstacles until a desired destination is reached,” the San Mateo-based company says.

“The driver and the cabin are stabilized by a unique gimbaled rotating cabin design.”

Alef touts the car’s ability to avoid traffic, fly in any direction while giving a “cinematic 180 plus degree view for safe and enjoyable flight.”

Customers can preorder the vehicle, which can seat up to two people is expected to cost around $300,000.

[BobL]

“This is getting interesting...”

Agree, in your linked article, it says:

“Dukhovny’s dream is growing closer to reality, but tragically his father will not see the Model A’s launch. He died in a house fire in Mountain View on May 4, 2022.”

How convenient regarding the timing - after all, how often do people die in ‘house fires’ these days?

[Celerity]

I Bellerive what you’re thinking of may be in the early stages already...

It’s called “one pedal driving” many cars offer it.

There are more losses in an electrically motivated vehicle than just those though. The heat is such a concern that violent fires are not uncommon.