Alef flying car: What we know about the first car certified to fly: Design, technology, price
The Alef electric flying car has become the first to receive government approval to take to the skies. Models expected to be available to public in 2025.
The idea of flying cars is as old as the science fiction genre but in recent years that dream has started to look like it may become a reality. Alef Aeronautics’ Model A flying car is the first to receive a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) giving it the go ahead to take to the skies.
“We’re excited to receive this certification from the FAA,” said Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef in a press release. “It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week. This is a one small step for planes, one giant step for cars.”
Alef flying car: What we know about the first car certified to fly: Design, technology, price
The public got its first glimpse of the Alef Model A, which can carry one or two people, in October 2022. Pre-orders have already begun for the $300,000 all-electric vehicle that in addition to being able to fly can be driven on regular roads and park in spots designed for flightless cars. The car takes off and lands vertically, but when it is in the air it uses the sides of the vehicle as the wings for horizontal flight.
The occupants will sit inside a bubble-like capsule in the middle of the vehicle. Instead of one large motor, the Alef Model A uses four small motors which power eight propellers, four on either side of the central capsule. The blades are covered with a mesh allowing air to flow through the car enabling vertical takeoffs and landings.
The car will have a terrestrial range of 200 miles and slightly more than half that in the air, able to cover 110 miles in flight mode according to Alef. Given the novel nature of the vehicle the FAA is still drawing up policies for electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL).
Alef Aeronautics plans to deliver the first units to customers by the end of 2025. At the moment, Alef flying car owners will only be able to take off and land in “whitelisted areas”. Dukhovny says that they will most likely only be required to have a simple Part 107 drone license to fly the car, that is in addition to a standard driver’s license for on the road.
Alef “Model Z” will be cheaper and carry more people
Some would-be buyers might be turned off by the big price tag of the Alef Model A. The head of Alef said that for now the company is focused on a small production run with high cost units. However, by 2035 the company plans to start mass production of a cheaper Model Z which will sell for just $35,000.
Additionally, that version of the flying car will have space for four to six occupants and have more autonomy. Dukhovny says that it will be able to travel up to 300 miles on the road and 200 miles flying. With hydrogen power up to 500 miles in the air. He also foresees that the vehicles will be permitted to take off and land from anywhere except “blacklisted areas”.