Xpeng serious about $200K 'flying car’
BY PETER BARNWELL | 11th Nov 2024
JASON Clarke, the CEO of Australian Xpeng distributor TrueEV was serious when he commented at the recent Sydney International EV Autoshow, that the X2 electric “flying car” is not a gimmick.
“It’s not a drone for people, or a flying battery,” he parried when the idea was postulated during the event’s media call.
“They are already being flown in various locations and are being used as a helicopter replacement for some applications,” he said.
“You can buy one now for around $200,000, and we will place the order,” said Mr Clarke, who confirmed that Xpeng had already fielded a number of X2 enquiries Down Under regarding the Jetsons-like two-seater.
When introducing Xpeng cars at the Sydney show, he explained that Xpeng was “big in AI, robotics, aviation and computer chips,” providing synergies to produce something like a flying car through subsidiary Xpeng Aeroht.
The battery-powered craft (which is not suitable for driving on the road and thus is not really a flying car) is made predominantly of lightweight carbon-fibre and has power pods at each corner with dual propellers, one on top and the other underneath for eight in total.
Mr Clarke said the 360kg (empty) X2’s range was 75km with a top speed of 130km/h and “yes, it is fitted with a ballistic parachute safety device”.
“It is most definitely not a drone and it can be registered (as an aircraft),” he clarified.
The model made its debut flight in October 2022 at a venue called Skydive Dubai, underlining Xpeng’s pre-eminent position as the largest “flying car” company in Asia.
On display Down Under was the fifth-generation flying car that is independently developed and manufactured by Xpeng Aeroht.
It is the first model with an enclosed cockpit, a minimalist teardrop-shaped design and a sci-fi appearance that takes efficient aerodynamics into account for better in-flight performance.
Strictly a two-seater, the X2 produces zero carbon dioxide emissions during flight and, according to Xpeng, is a step forward in the pursuit of urban green transportation.
The craft that operates at a 500m ceiling, is designed for future low-altitude city flights and is described by Xpeng as "perfect for short-distance city journeys such as sightseeing and medical transportation”.
It has two flight modes: Manual and autonomous.
During an autonomous flight, passengers can have a “safe and intelligent flying experience with simple start, return and landing operations at the touch of a button,” says Xpeng.
A completely new model is in the pipeline that can be driven on the road as well as fly.
Xpeng Aeroht has recently announced further updates on a sixth-generation electric flying car undergoing R&D including its configuration, exterior design and air “driving method”.
The vehicle/craft is equipped with both manual and automatic flight driving modes and will be able to drive on roads, representing a “true transformation from two-dimensional to three-dimensional mobility”.
It is said to be able to meet daily travel demands and can activate a folding system to achieve vertical take-off and landing for a low-altitude manned flight.