China’s flying car tests underway
The first vertical take-off electric vehicle from the Xpeng company, called X2, has a range of 35 minutes and can fly at a height of a thousand meters.
After completing all kinds of procedures such as risk assessment, and obtaining a flight permit from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, the Chinese company Xpeng has exhibited its first flying electric vehicle model’s which can takeoff vertically in the Emirati city.
The new car, named X2, successfully carried out a short flight during the GITEX Global edition that took place in the United Arab Emirates. On this occasion, the model presented had space for two passengers, although it carried out the test flight autonomously and without anyone on board the vehicle. It works by using batteries and has the DEP (Distributed Electric Propulsion) propulsion system.
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At the moment, the price of these vehicles is unknown, although everything indicates that their cost will be too high for most and only a few will be able to afford to purchase a vehicle that is sure to be a turning point in the motoring industry. Despite not being confirmed, it is estimated that the price could range between roughly 154,000 and 252,000 dollars. If confirmed, it would be a much lower figure compared to that of the most expensive car in the world, which is currently the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail (28 million dollars).
Regarding the characteristics of the model presented by Xpeng Motors, the car belongs to the fifth generation of the flying car concept from the company founded by the Chinese businessman and engineer Zhao Deli, who already had the idea of the flying motorcycle concept years ago. Its weight, including batteries, reaches 560 kilos and would rise to 760 kilos at takeoff. The carbon fiber and the aluminum structure, the main materials used in its construction, have helped keep its weight down.
The vehicle can reach a height of a thousand meters during the flight, although the ideal height is between 400 and 500 meters. At this last band of altitude, it can reach speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour. It is also worth noting its autonomy, which is up to 35 minutes. Like some land vehicles, it has two models, automatic and manual driving.
Xpeng Motors, direct competition of Tesla in China
The Chinese company is Tesla’s direct competition in the Asian giant’s automobile market. However, it not only has a presence in China, but also in Europe. Last March, it announced the opening of reservations in Europe for its third and latest model, the Xpeng P5 electric vehicle, which has a stated maximum autonomy of up to 600 kilometers and the company intends to market it in countries such as Denmark , Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden.