Can the C1 driver's license be opened, take off and land on the spot + automatic driving, and Xpeng flying cars are scheduled for the fourth quarter
On January 10, during the CES exhibition, Xpeng Huitian officially announced that its flying car "Land Aircraft Carrier" will officially open reservations in the fourth quarter of 2024, and mass production and delivery will begin in the fourth quarter of next year as planned. It is reported that the car will face individual users, and if it is successfully delivered, it will open a new way of travel combining land and flight.
The "land aircraft carrier" is divided into two parts, the "mother ship" and the flying body, which are responsible for land traffic and air traffic respectively. The design of the mothership is as futuristic as if it jumped out of a science fiction movie. The closed front of the car has sharp lines, the daytime running lights on both sides are T-shaped, and the Xpeng English logo in the middle can be illuminated. The front length is very compact, and the hood is almost in the same plane as the A-pillar, which gives the front proportions similar to that of MPV models. It is worth noting that this "mothership" received a 6X6 drive form.
This flying car also uses "black technology" such as a foldable steering wheel, transparent instrument panel, and transparent chassis in the cockpit to provide an intelligent cockpit experience. In addition, 4-5 seats are provided in the car to meet the needs of multiple people. Based on the layout of the cabin, it is speculated that the flying car may be fully autonomous, after all, the driver can even fold the steering wheel.
In terms of power, this flying car uses a range-extended electric drive system, which can continuously replenish the energy of the aircraft. In terms of drive, this flying car adopts 6X6 all-wheel drive, which not only provides better load capacity, but also improves the ability to get out of trouble. In addition, the rear wheels support the steering function to improve low-speed agility.
This flying car is called a "land aircraft carrier" because the aircraft can take off and land on the spot on the mothership. The aircraft is placed at the rear of the cabin, which is a pure electric aircraft that can be replenished on the mothership. The aircraft can carry up to two passengers and supports both manual and autopilot modes.
In terms of use scenarios, this aircraft can achieve vertical take-off and landing, which is mainly used for some low-altitude flight situations. If there is a traffic jam on the way to work, then we can set the car to autonomously, let the car drive to the destination, and then get on the plane to avoid the congestion. When you get behind the wheel of this flying car, there is one less reason to be late for work.
At present, the relevant departments have put forward a clear time plan for eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) and flying cars, to achieve pilot operation in 2025, and then to build a green aviation manufacturing system with integrity, advancement and safety in 2035. Xpeng's flying car is scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2025, at which point pilot work will begin one after another. There are still many unknown factors in the management of flying cars, such as whether the corresponding qualifications are required to drive the aircraft, how the aircraft operates under the supervision of the air traffic control department, and how to pay insurance taxes and fees, etc., which need to be gradually improved after the start of the pilot operation.
The editor said:
Flying cars can not only run on the road, but also fly in the sky, and the use scenarios are really rich. Flying cars will first play a role in the public domain, such as patrol lines, emergency rescue, etc. With the use and popularization of low-altitude aircraft, the pressure on our land transportation will be alleviated, and our future travel experience will be greatly improved. Of course, flying cars still need to face many problems, such as whether driving an aircraft requires a driver's license-like flight qualification, whether the autopilot system is perfect, etc., these are things that need to be improved urgently.