Florida-based startup LuftCar has teamed up with eFrancisco Motor Corporation on a project of an aerial car considered innovative even by the canons of the genre. According to New Atlas quoting the press release, it is expected to run on hydrogen fuel cells and double as a normal road-legal van thanks to quick-release rotors.
Most modern vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles (the so-called VTOLs) are equipped with electric motors. Rather than rely on a heavy battery, the Floridan firm proposes using lightweight hydrogen fuel cells for power generation. The company reckons that the eVTOL will be able to accelerate to 354 km/h (220 mph) in the air and cover up to 483 km (300 miles) on full tanks.
Both the wings and the six rotors seen here can be detached, turning the LuftCar into a normal van suitable for driving on the road. The whole aerial attachment can be stored as a pre-assembled unit that only takes a few minutes to install.
Based on the sketches, the passengers are supposed to use the front end of the aircraft for boarding and deboarding. The only production car to use a similar design solution was the BMW Isetta – or, at least, it’s the only one that comes to mind. Since the LuftCar is envisioned as a fully autonomous flyer, it doesn’t need any controls in the cabin and can afford to turn its windshield into a door.
Like many startups, the company is missing funds for the development of the eVTOL, but says it will make every effort to secure investment.