Rolls-Royce Unveils Hybrid-Electric Air Taxi

Rolls-Royce is joining the flying taxi club, and I’d love to tell you the brand synonymous with swanky has the Rolls-Royce of flying cars, but it’s more like an airborne tadpole.

The British automaker unveiled the electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) vehicle concept at the Farnborough International Airshow 2018. In truth, it’s less an air taxi and more for “personal air mobility” – Rolls-Royce describes it as a “flexible aircraft platform” suitable for personal, commercial passenger, cargo, and military applications.

Like other VTOL craft, namely the V-22 Osprey, the EVTOL vehicle would take off vertically – key for urban taxis – before the wings fold back once the plane reaches cruising altitude. It then relies on its two rear propellers for thrust.

The craft uses an M250 gas turbine hybrid-electric propulsion system to deliver 500kW of power, with a cruising speed of 250 MPH and max range of 500 miles – so from NYC to Toledo, Ohio. For relatively short taxi routes, that capacity should last a good while. The EVTOL vehicle could ferry 4-5 people.

Rolls-Royce claims their “flexible aircraft platform” is based on existing technology – or tech currently in development – and could be ready by the early 2020s.

Pricing is up in the air – no pun intended – though rivals like Uber are pushing to make air taxi rides the same price as the earthbound variety, so Rolls-Royce should make its EVTOL at least somewhat affordable.

Read more about it here: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/rolls-royce-evtol-flying-taxi-concept/#ftag=CAD590a51e