Chinese Build Flying Cars

Chinese automaker Geely is entering the flying car sector by acquiring Terrafugia, a company that specializes in building flying vehicles. Geely currently owns the passenger car division of Swedish company Volvo and is considered one of the Chinese automakers that is transforming through direct injection of technical knowledge from this Swedish company. Some view this company as one of China's hopes to compete with major global automakers. Now, Geely has taken a bold step further by purchasing Terrafugia, aiming to develop flying cars and plan for this emerging market in the future. Terrafugia, headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, has been working on prototypes of flying cars since 2006. The company's first product is expected to be unveiled in 2019. Engineers at Terrafugia intend to introduce a vertical takeoff vehicle named TF-X, which will use a hybrid engine and is planned to travel up to 800 kilometers on a single charge. One of Geely's executives, Li Shufu, stated, 'Terrafugia wants to build an excellent flying car. This project is very exciting, and we are confident that this company has the capability to do so. We are investing in this company so that its engineers can build a flying car.' The price of this flying car will be comparable to that of a luxury vehicle, and it will require 30 meters of open space for takeoff. The flying speed of this vehicle is reported to be around 320 kilometers per hour. Terrafugia was founded in 2006 by five MIT graduates. According to an agreement with Geely, experiences in car and gasoline engine manufacturing will be transferred from Geely to the American company, and flying experiences from the American company to the Chinese company. However, after Geely's acquisition of the American company, Terrafugia's office will remain in the USA. Currently, several companies worldwide are working on flying cars, and many ride-hailing services, such as Uber, are willing to support flying car projects. Recently, Airbus also announced the successful testing of its flying car. Airbus reported that it has tested this aerial vehicle for the first time. If Airbus's plan is implemented, this flying car could provide a way to escape congested routes and reach destinations faster. Airbus intends to collaborate with ride-hailing services to offer its air taxis. Therefore, the company is negotiating with Uber, which is also looking for aerial services for its taxi offerings. The urban model of Airbus was showcased at the Paris Air Show earlier this year; this electric vertical takeoff aircraft, powered by 100-kilowatt electric motors, can carry four passengers at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour using eight propellers. Marius Bepstel, the engineering team leader for the Airbus urban project, stated, 'After conducting this test, we gained a better understanding of the electric propulsion systems of Airbus urban, and we will conduct more rigorous and additional tests to implement it; at the same time, we are also in the process of building the main model of Airbus urban.' Alongside Airbus, many companies in Europe and the USA are testing their flying cars. The latest design in this field is 'Aircar,' built by a company in Slovakia, which will soon go into mass production. This vehicle, which is currently available for pre-order, can take off from an airport runway and travel a distance of 750 kilometers. After landing, this vehicle folds its wings and can begin to navigate on the street. The main propulsion power of this model, located at the rear of the vehicle, comes from a two-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. This engine produces about 300 horsepower using a turbocharger. The mentioned engine drives a propeller at the back of the vehicle for flight, and the propeller along with the wings opens during flight. After landing, an electric motor with a power of 110 horsepower located at the front of the vehicle takes over the vehicle's movement on the road. The batteries of this electric motor are charged by the gasoline engine. The speed of this vehicle on the ground is 160 kilometers per hour, and during flight, the speed reaches 360 kilometers per hour. Solar energy receivers are also installed on the vehicle's wings to charge the vehicle's batteries during flight for ground movement. This two-seater vehicle can transform from a car to an airplane in three minutes.