Alef Aeronautics, a US-based automotive and aviation company, has come up with a flying car. The vehicle, which is called Alef Model A, has got a special airworthiness certification from the US federal aviation administration.
Established in 2015, the company set out to develop the first flying car of the world. Fast forward to 2023, and the firm has achieved a huge milestone by getting the approval from the US government for their creation, the Alef Model A.
The Alef flying car can be driven on all kinds of roads. It can fit within a standard driving lane and can follow all traffic regulations, ensuring a safe and convenient driving experience for its users.
This innovative vehicle runs solely on electricity and emits zero emissions during operation. The Alef Model A also exhibits vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, and it comfortably accommodates one or two occupants. This vehicle can also be parked in a regular parking space and fits easily in a standard-sized garage.
The price of the Model A flying car begins at USD 300,000. With a token amount of USD 150, the electric model can be pre-ordered on Alef’s website.
In 2022, the average driver in the US spent 51 hours stuck in traffic, costing them nearly $550 in fuel and $870 in lost time. In busy cities like New York and Chicago, they spent well over 100 hours in traffic.
The problem is expected to get worse in the future as the population grows and more people move into and around urban areas, and until we completely phase out fossil fuel-powered cars, more driving is going to mean more harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
To combat our climate woes and help commuters avoid congestion, dozens of companies are developing small electric aircraft to fly them above crowded streets.
They take-off and land vertically, like helicopters. Those are typically limited to flying, though — you couldn’t also drive one on the road, which means they can only travel to and from places with suitable landing pads.
A smaller group are developing true flying cars — vehicles that can be flown or driven on public roads — but the only ones that have gotten the FAA greenlight for test flights are gas/electric hybrids and one of them still requires a runway to take off, which means it wouldn’t be much use for navigating around a city.
California-based Alef Aeronautics has now secured a special airworthiness certification from the federal aviation authority in the experimental category, for its Armada Model Zero, a fully electric flying car that takes off and lands vertically.
This certification doesn’t give Alef permission to fly the Armada wherever and whenever it wants, but it does give the company more flexibility for flights.
Alef plans to use these Armada flights to inform the design of its first production vehicle, the Model A. That electric flying car is expected to carry 1 to 2 passengers, have a top road speed of 25 mph, and have a range of 200 miles on the ground or 110 miles in the air.
Alef is already taking pre-orders for the $300,000 Model A on its website, with plans to begin deliveries in 2025, pending approval.
“We’re excited to receive this certification from the FAA,” said CEO Jim Dukhovny. “It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week.”
A former Nigerian Senator and businessman, Ben Murray Bruce, has pre-ordered for this flying electric car. Ben Bruce made a post on Facebook announcing his pre-order for the car to be delivered in 2025.
In a post on Facebook, Ben Murray Bruce wrote thus: “I am thrilled to announce my preorder of Alef, the first FAA-approved flying electric car! A testament to our boundless future—flying cars aren’t just for sci-fi anymore.
“For years, I’ve been an advocate for electric vehicles, and I was the first to own one in Nigeria.
“Here’s to the next leap in transportation. Africa, we rise! Excited to bring this revolution to Nigeria, and I hope the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is ready.
In another video, he was heard advising vice president, Kashim Shettima, to make pre-order for the car.
