3 November 2022
China’s Xpeng car company is testing a two-ton electric flying car that takes off and lands vertically. Xpeng AeroHT showed the eVTOL, codenamed ‘X3’, at Xpeng’s 1024 Tech Day recently and issued the video below.
“Designed for both air flight and road driving, the flying car conveniently features a sleek rotor fold-away system for seamless conversation between driving and flying,” said a statement from the company.
“It is equipped with a new flight control system equipped with fault-tolerant control functions and a dual-engine backup system to ensure safety.”
The video shows the test prototype of the flying car successfully completing its maiden flight as well as multiple single-motor failure tests.
“In driving mode, it is comparable with any conventional cars in terms of functionality and measurement,” continued Xpeng’s statement.
“In flight mode, the flying car is piloted using the steering wheel and the right-hand gear lever as controls to move forward and backward, make turns, ascend, hover and descend. Subject to laws and regulations for the low-altitude airspace, it can take off and land vertically, and fly over traffic congestion, obstacles and rivers to meet a new host of short-distance mobility needs.”
That’s two tons of car, battery and rotors overhead…
Yup, very sleek… X3 with the rotors folded away
