The photo is sourced from prnewswire.com
The electric car will be equipped with four motors and a glazed two-seat cabin, completely isolated from the outer body. The upper part of the body is in the form of a lightweight three-dimensional mesh allowing the air to pass through the car. At the same time, the car has eight propellers for vertical take-off and landing located under the mesh skin, the diameter of each 61 cm. After taking off, the model will rotate 90 degrees around its axis for a horizontal movement through the air, and the side panels of the car will start to act as convex aerodynamic wings. The vehicle has the range of 322 km on the ground and 177 km in the air.
The disadvantage of the electric car is its relatively small carrying capacity. According to Alef Aeronautics, the Alef A model will be able to “take on board” 90.7 kg, including the weight of the luggage and the passengers. However, this disadvantage could be addressed in the company’s next project – a four-seater Alef Z sedan, which will be presented in 2035. Its cost will be “just” $ 35,000, and the cruising range is 352 km on the ground and 480 km in the air.
“The Alef Model is a modern solution for both urban and rural transportation needs in the 21st century because it is the fastest and most convenient transport ever created from the point of origin to the final destination. By enabling consumers to choose driving or flying mode, the Alef flying car allows the optimal path depending on road conditions, weather and infrastructure,” Alef Aeronautics quotes CEO Jim Dukhovny in his release.
A prototype electric car was tested since 2019. A full-fledged commercial analogue will be equipped with a number of the automated systems designed to ensure safety in the air and on the ground, including a flight stabilisation program, an obstacle detection and an avoidance system.
