Electric Car Which Can Fly? (Image Source – X)
Alef Aeronautics CEO Jim Dukhovny compared the demonstration to the Wright Brothers’ historic Kitty Hawk flight, emphasizing its significance. “This test drive and flight mark a crucial technological breakthrough in a real-world city environment. We hope it will be a moment that proves to humanity that new modes of transportation are possible,” he stated.
The futuristic vehicle relies on a system known as distributed electric propulsion, which utilises a mesh layer over its propeller blades to optimize airflow, as reported by the Daily Mail. It features four rotors at the front and another four at the rear.
Currently, the vehicle has a maximum speed of just 25 miles per hour. Despite this limitation, the company has already received over 3,000 preorders and aims to sell each unit for $300,000 (approximately Rs 2.6 crore).
Social Media Reactions
While the video left some viewers impressed, many remained skeptical, with some even dismissing it as CGI. “Why does it look like bad CGI?” one user questioned. Another questioned, ”Why does this look like a horrible idea?”
Others suggested the vehicle was essentially a disguised drone. “Isn’t this just a big drone made to look like a car?” another asked.
One user also raised concerns about its practicality in addressing traffic congestion. “How does ‘jumping’ over traffic solve the issue? It might work for the person making the jump, but what about the hundreds of other cars stuck in the jam? And if everyone could jump, imagine 100 cars leaping into the air at once to escape traffic.”
