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  • 19 hours ago
Between quick charging and low maintenance, something like Vertical Aerospace's Valo could actually provide rides on par with Uber in terms of cost. All that's missing now is the proper charging infrastructure... and of course, certification to operate.

If available, and if the same price as your Uber Black, would you take an air taxi like this the next time you're heading to the airport?
Transcript
00:00You got to check this out. This is the vertical aerospace Velo, an electric vertical takeoff and
00:05landing aircraft that's optimized for short routes where it can land, recharge quickly,
00:10and then get back into the air with faster turnaround times than a traditional helicopter.
00:15Underneath its floor, it's got eight liquid-cooled batteries that are targeting a full charge in
00:19approximately 15 minutes, which just blows my mind. Of course, you're going to need the
00:23charging infrastructure to support those speeds, but being electric also means fewer moving parts
00:28compared to a traditional helicopter. No turbine engine, no complex gearbox, and less mechanical
00:33wear over time. This is going to translate to lower maintenance, lower operating costs,
00:38and less time grounded for repairs, which is a big deal for operators. This also makes the aircraft
00:43significantly quieter and much better for the environment with zero operating emissions.
00:48This is currently the biggest limitation for helicopters and it prevents them from flying
00:52over cities. And for those who need even more range than the 100 miles of electric charge that
00:57this model can fly, Vertical is also planning a hybrid version using that same airframe.
01:02With its hybrid configuration, fuel will be used to power generators that then feed the electric
01:07motors instead of directly driving the rotors. And this could deliver up to a thousand miles of range.
01:13And this is why Vertical believes that their flights could eventually cost closer to that of a premium
01:18ride share instead of a traditional helicopter charter.
01:21But what do you guys think? Could air taxis be the future of commuting? And what city would you like
01:25to see it
01:25come to next? If you want to understand more on how this VTOL aircraft works, check out my next video.
01:30So, let's see if you can see it in the next video.
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