The Chennai-based, Indian start-up ePlane, which was founded in 2019 has designed an electric flying taxi for urban commute that can carry people to their destination 10 times faster, and at the same time is safer, economical, noise free and eco-friendly.
The battery powered ePlane taxi will have a capacity of 200kg payload to accommodate two passengers. A scaled down version of the taxi, with 50kg payload capacity, will undergo tests in July 2021 and the final prototype is expected to be ready in early 2022.
The ePlane will be powered by lithium-ion batteries and will have a vertical takeoff and landing and will be operated by a pilot.
It will fly at around 0.5km to 2km altitude at a speed of around 200km per hour. In a single charge, the taxi will be able to make 10 to 20 trips covering a total of 200kms.
The cost may be 1.5 to two times of a normal taxi. But the advantage is that it will bypass traffic and reach the destination much faster. This taxi will take only 10 minutes to cover 10km. But as the number and frequency of taxis will increase, the cost will be at par with any app-based taxi.
Aimed at minimizing road traffic and travel time, the startup worked on a lightweight design with composite materials, that can fly relatively slower to make short trips. Eventually, the plan is to develop a three or four-seater plane, while also attempting a cargo delivery.
This is a PRNewswire Feed; edited by Clean-Future Team