GabyAutomotive giant Hyundai The concept of the S-A2 electric taxi with vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) was showcased at the CES 2024 exhibition in Las Vegas. This is a new version of the S-A1 concept that was introduced four years earlier. The development and enhancement of the aircraft, which features eight rotors, is being handled by Supernal, a company owned by Hyundai Motor Group.
According to Neil Marshall, head of production strategy at Supernal, the S-A2 concept is expected to receive official approval in 2026. After that, the company will rapidly move towards launching the service. The first electric taxi rides are planned for 2028.
What does it represent? Hyundai Supernal S – A 2
So what will it be? air taxi that will soon transport people, avoiding street traffic jams?
The model is ecological, as it is fully electric. This elegant aircraft has five seats: one for the pilot and four for passengers. It is equipped with eight rotating propellers. As soon as the machine takes to the air, all of them rotate 90 degrees. After that, the vehicle stops flying like a helicopter and begins to behave like a propeller plane.
The aircraft of the current version will cover distances of 40-60 kilometers. They will reach speeds of up to 193 km/h. The maximum flight altitude will be 450 meters. Additionally, Supernal engineers boasted that the new taxis will not annoy people with excessively loud noise. The noise level during flight will not exceed 45 dB, and during takeoff, it will be 65 dB.
Developers have stated that since there will be only a few Supernal vehicles in the initial phase, a ride in a flying taxi will not be very cheap. (The exact cost is still unclear). However, as the fleet of Hyundai Supernal S-A2 increases, the price of the service will decrease, gradually approaching the rates of a regular taxi.
The company aims to build as many of these vehicles as possible and put them into operation. “We need to achieve a price point that makes the service accessible to everyone, not just wealthy individuals and company executives,” Mr. Marshall noted.
Another hot plan from Supernal is to create a network of vertiports where new electric air taxis can land. These sites will be located near important destinations such as airports and hospitals. In other words, they will be situated in locations that people want to reach quickly, the publication reported. Daily Mail .
Vertiport – this is a takeoff and landing areaelectric aircraftwith vertical takeoff and landing(eVTOL)or other modern means of transportation.
It is expected that the parent company Hyundai may come to the rescue here. It will offer special vehicles that can transport passengers to and from vertiports, similar to airport shuttles. The long-term plan includes the construction of vertiports for Hyundai’s taxi service in key transportation hubs around the world.
