The Airbus has developed a new concept of an electric “air taxi” called CityAirbus NextGen, which promises to offer fast and efficient transport over cities, eliminating ground traffic.
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The vehicle can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h and cover distances of up to 80 km, ideal features for short urban trips. It features vertical takeoff and landing, is fully electric, and has four seats, accommodating small groups of passengers.
The proposal is to maintain a fleet of air taxis operating continuously or in recharge mode, enabling quick and convenient travel between strategic points, complementing other modes of transport.
With a wingspan of 12 meters and eight propellers, the CityAirbus NextGen has a lightweight and quiet design, essential factors for its use in urban environments without competing with large aircraft. Furthermore, the air taxi could be used for emergency transportation, such as in air ambulance missions, or for scientific applications.
Although still in the testing phase, with the first experimental flight scheduled for late 2024, Airbus faces technical challenges, mainly concerning safety and noise reduction. The production of the propellers also requires optimizations, as the current process takes about eight hours for each piece. Even with these issues, Airbus sees the CityAirbus NextGen as an important step toward urban air mobility, seeking solutions that integrate safety and efficiency to make air taxis a reality.
Source: The Sun | Photo: Airbus | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team