At CES 2020 in Las Vegas on Monday, the businesses announced a prototype concept for a replacement plane meant to eventually devour passengers who order flights through Uber Air’s flight-sharing service.
« It’s taking Uber to the sky, » Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate, which operates Uber Air, said at a CES event. As he explained, Uber isn’t close to starting making air taxis. So Hyundai can build the crafts for them. » The day when Hyundai air taxis are taking Uber passengers through the skies is closer than you think that, » Allison said.
Hyundai’s idea for an e-VTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) is named the S-A1. It’s still an idea with no set production date, but Hyundai wants the craft to hold up to four Uber passengers. The plan is to eventually make the vehicles autonomous.
Hyundai’s « Personal Air Vehicle » is fully electric with a 60-mile range and is supposed to fly at low altitudes, up to 2,000 feet. The vehicles will recharge at Uber’s skyports and can take under 10 minutes.
The craft will fly at up to 180 mph and Uber says it’ll cost about $100 for every 20 miles.
In the future, the skies might be crammed with flying taxis.
