Very Promising Flying-Driving Car
XPeng X3 eVTOL Successful Test Flight
Unique Flying Car Technology
China-based eVTOL startup XPeng has just successfully completed the 1st full test flight of its 2-ton, all-electric flying car X3 in Beijing. The flying car contains unique aviation and automotive technologies. It is a real flying and driving car with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. If the EV encounters an obstacle like a river or traffic jam, it can vertically take-off, flying over the obstruction, land and then resume driving. X3 offers new possibilities in mobility. It's the stuff that a commuting dream is made of. It's a zero-emissions, fully electric, flying and driving car that is just about production ready. It has become one of the most promising EVs in the highly competitive global race to take a flying car to market.
Combo Car & Plane: 2-in-1 Tech
According to XPeng, the X3 operates like any conventional car while driving. But what is unconventional is that the steering wheel and right-hand gear shift also operate as the levers of flight control for forward, backward, ascent, turning, climbing, hovering and descent during flight. X3 is 2-in-1 travel tech. To become airborne, X3 extends 4 rotor booms, each with a pair of rotors, on the roof and lifts off. Essentially, it's a multicopter lift system.
More Tech Specs
X3 has 8 electric motors, each attached to an 11.5-foot diameter propeller. The huge-rotor lift system with the 4 beams are mounted on the top of the car body. The company says the rotor system easily deploys for flight and conveniently folds down for driving. X3 is a heavy flying machine at 4,374 pounds and at the moment can carry only 2 people. For reliability and safety, it has an advanced flight control system and a dual engine backup system. It's just about production ready. More testing and refinement of the EV will be done but XPeng says it is 80% ready to go into mass production. The company has not provided data on range, speed and pricing.
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