Alef Aeronautics launches eVTOL flying car
The all-electric composite Alef Model A has a 200-mile driving range, a 110-mile flight range and fits within existing urban infrastructure for driving and parking.
Photo Credit: Alef Aeronautics
Alef Aeronautics (Santa Clara, Calif., U.S.), a sustainable electric transportation company, introduces the Alef Model A, which the company claims is the only all-electric drivable flying car with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities (VTOL), fitting within existing urban infrastructure for driving and parking. The Alef Model A is anticipated to be available for presale to consumers in Q1 2023, with production and first deliveries beginning in 2025.
The Alef Model A flying car comprises a carbon fiber body. It has a driving range of 200 miles and a flight range of 110 miles. It offers a distributed electric propulsion system, no exposed propellers, extensive software flight stabilization and safety system, elevon system and all-wheel driving. Key safety components include triple to octuple redundancy of all key
components, real-time thousand-point diagnostics, preflight reject start diagnostics, obstacle detection and avoidance, and others.
“The Alef Model is a modern solution for both urban and rural transportation needs in the 21st century because it is the fastest and most convenient transport ever created from the point of origin to the final destination,” Alef’s CEO Jim Dukhovny says. “By enabling consumers to choose driving or flying mode, the Alef flying car allows the optimal path depending on road conditions, weather and infrastructure.”
The Alef flying car has reportedly been developed using the latest hardware and software technology advances, ultra-light and ultra-strong components, software simulators and analysis and rigorous flight testing.
The Alef founding team has more than 70 years of experience in engineering and technology development and has been working on the Alef flying car since 2015. It earned early support from distinguished investors and industry veterans, led by Tim Draper (who, among others, was one of the first venture capitalists to invest in Tesla), former head of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Ford Aerospace Dr. Anthony Tether, NBA star Luis Scola, Bugatti and Jaguar designer Hirash Razaghi, and others.
With additional models in development, Alef is working towards a four-person sedan, Alef Model Z, scheduled for introduction in 2030. It will be capable of flying 200+ miles with a driving range of 400+ miles.
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