The US Federal Aviation Administration has cleared for testing a vehicle characterised as a flying car — the first entirely electric vehicle to obtain US government certification that can both fly in the air and ride on roads.
Alef Automotive, a California start-up, claims that its vehicle/aircraft, called the "Model A," is the first flying vehicle that can drive on public roads and park like a regular car. It is also capable of vertical takeoff and landing. It will reportedly be capable of carrying one or two passengers and will have a driving range of 200 miles and a flying range of 110 miles.
The car will be sold for $300,000 each, with the first deliveries scheduled for the end of 2025.
The FAA acknowledged that it had granted the corporation a special airworthiness certificate, which allows for limited uses such as exhibition and research and development.
Several businesses are developing all-electric VTOLs (vehicle takeoff and landing aircraft).
According to the FAA, Alef is "not the first aircraft of its kind" to receive a special airworthiness certificate. However, Alef highlighted that its vehicle is unique in that it can operate both on roads and in the air, seem as a normal automobile, and park in a conventional parking space.
“We’re excited to receive this certification from the FAA. It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week. This is a one small step for planes, one giant step for cars,” said Jim Dukhovny, the CEO of Alef.
The company’s website said the flying car will be a certified as a “low speed vehicle,” which means it won’t be able to go faster than about 25 miles per hour on a paved road.
“The assumption is that, if a driver needs a faster route, a driver will use Alef’s flight capabilities,” the company posted on the site.
Development has been underway on the vehicle since 2015. Four friends, Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, Oleg Petrov and Dukhovny, inspired by the “Back to the Future” movies decided to form a company to try to develop flying cars.
An early automated test flight of a skeleton form of the car was successfully completed in 2018, and a full-size prototype was flown the following year, according to the company. However, Alef stated that it required the FAA's special airworthiness certificate to continue undertaking research and development.
The company also stated that it has received refundable pre-orders for over 400 of the automobiles.
An early automated test flight of a skeleton form of the car was successfully completed in 2018, and a full-size prototype was flown the following year, according to the company. However, Alef stated that it required the FAA's special airworthiness certificate to continue undertaking research and development.
The company also stated that it has received refundable pre-orders for over 400 of the automobiles.
Watch the videos below.
The FAA just approved a flying car for testing.
— Noor Chopra (@noorg420) July 4, 2023
Alef Automotive said that its vehicle/aircraft is the first flying vehicle that's drivable on public roads and parkable like a normal car.
The vehicle is set to sell for $300,000 each with the first delivery by the end of 2025. pic.twitter.com/riXt2xnyRp
The Alef Flying Car, the first #flyingcar in history to receive a limited license in the #USA , is now available for purchase at $300,000.
— George Marshall (@MrGeorgeCrypto) July 3, 2023
It has a ground range of 322 km and an air range of 177 km. Pre-orders are already available, and it will be possible to take it for a spin… pic.twitter.com/ZLtEO1z4wx