An electric drone taxi dubbed the 'Tesla of the Skies' takes flight in Paris

Volocopter's CEO, Dirk Hoke, said the company hopes to launch short commercial flights by 2024.

Benoit Tessier/Reuters

• German manufacturer Volocopter flew its electric helicopter in air traffic for the first time last week.
• The air taxi has eight rotors and space for two passengers.
• Volocopter's CEO, Dirk Hoke, said the company hopes to launch short commercial flights by 2024.

German aircraft manufacturer Volocopter flew its electric helicopter in air traffic for the first time when it took to the skies in Paris on November 10.

Benoit Tessier/Reuters

The aircraft, known as the VoloCity, resembles a large drone with eight rotors and space for two people.

The helicopter is intended to be used to transport people in urban cities.

Volocopter's CEO Dirk Hoke said in a press release that the company wanted to provide "an additional emission-free transport option for the public."

Volocopter is in the process of preparing the aircraft for certification and hopes to launch short commercial flights by 2024.

Benoit Tessier/Reuters

The company secured $182 million in funding at the start of November, according to TechCrunch. 

Per the outlet, the funds will go towards the company's testing program as Volocopter looks to certify the aircraft in the second half of 2023.

The funds will be added to a further $170 million Volocopter raised in March, TechCrunch added.

Christian Bauer, Volocopter's Chief Commercial Officer, told Bloomberg the company wanted the eVOTLs to be as revolutionary as Tesla cars as their size increases. 

"Tesla started with a two-seater because the battery technology wasn't there and now they are the most valuable car brand in the world," he said. "That's where we want to go."

The test marked the first time the helicopter had flown in conventional air traffic.

Benoit Tessier/Reuters

The flight aimed to demonstrate the entire journey passengers would take, from arriving at the terminal to boarding the aircraft.

The test flight took off with a pilot and passenger, but Volocopter says the aircraft won't need a pilot on board to fly.

The Volocopter test aircraft took off from the Pontoise-Cormeilles airfield just outside Paris and circled around the airfield among other aircraft before landing.

"Every test is one step closer to commercialization in time for 2024," Hoke said.

The company wants its air taxis to be able to fly fully automated, with only the passengers on board.

Volocopter's CEO, Dirk Hoke, said the company hopes to launch short commercial flights by 2024.

Benoit Tessier/Reuters

Volocopter said the company was still working on some of its infrastructure and airspace integration. Improving public acceptance of the aircraft was another area of focus.

Read the original article on Business Insider

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/LxZbh7n
via IFTTT