Something amazing happened on February 24 in Wuhan, Hubei, China. On that day, local tech company Dianying, or E-Hawk in English, revealed the world’s “UFO-style” flying car—a flying contraption that is the closest sci-fi-looking electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle yet.
Six years in the making, this bold low-altitude flying machine called the E-Hawk Flying Car eVTOL is the world’s largest ton-class fully ducted system aircraft. The ducted design eliminates one major safety concern of today’s so-called flying cars: exposed rotor blades. This allows the vehicle to get close to buildings—including balconies—for the evacuation of people trapped in a burning building without the risk of chewing anyone up.
That said, while it is primarily designed as a people mover, flying at low altitude to take passengers from point A to point B quickly, the platform can also be redesigned to serve as a cargo carrier or even as an emergency rescue vehicle.
Being a vertical take-off and landing aircraft, it does not need a runway. In the case of the E-Hawk Flying Car, it only requires an area about the size of four parking spaces. It can fly anywhere aircraft are allowed to go, as long as the range permits.
Speaking of range, the flight time per charge is currently a modest 20 minutes. According to Cai Xiaodong, Chairman of Electric Eagle Group Co., Ltd., this affords the aircraft over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of range. Not the best, obviously, but it would make for a perfect shuttle over a busy city, skipping potential congestion.
The aircraft measures just 5.6 meters (18.4 feet) long and 3.9 meters (12.8 feet) wide. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1.2 tons (2,646 pounds) and a maximum payload of up to 450 kilograms (992 pounds)—allowing it to accommodate up to four persons. It is also powerful enough to remain stable in winds up to level 7.
It is an all-electric aircraft powered by an eight-ducted-fan system concealed within a sleek aerodynamic body that has UFO-like lines—except that it isn’t disc-shaped. Because it has no exposed propellers, it has earned the nickname “invisible wings” aircraft in China.
The E-Hawk Flying Car is further equipped with a parachute and a backup battery, achieving a dual safety system. The vehicle is fully autonomous, with the entire flight controlled from the ground.
At the time of the public demonstration, the eVTOL had already completed over 100 test flights, demonstrating stable and reliable flight performance, and it is currently undergoing load testing. Simultaneously, it has applied to the relevant national departments for trial operation qualifications.
While it may be designed for everyday people as an alternative form of transport within the city, Mr. Cai said it is also available for purchase by individuals for under 2 million yuan.
The company expects to start taking pre-orders in about five years. But as far as daily transport goes, in the future the public will be able to book a ride—or is it a flight?—via mobile phone, experiencing the convenience of riding an autonomous “feide,” or flying taxi.
Images: E-Hawk [CH].
Story via Chang Jiang Daily News [CH].
