Chinese automaker Xpeng has presented its first all-electric VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle in Dubai, UAE. The Xpeng X2 is a concept envisioned as an ideal transports for short, fast urban trips.
Judging by the video, the flight wasn’t very long and the prototype had no people on board. However, the company pointed out the vehicle would support both autonomous and piloted modes.
Made of carbon fiber, the X2 tips the scales at just 560 kilos (1,234 pounds) and can carry another 200 kilos (440 pounds) on board. The maximum airborne time is 35 minutes, and the speed tops out at 130 km/h (80 mph). In case of an emergency, a smart parachute system will make sure land the VTOL as smoothly as possible.
The X2 was designed by Xpeng’s Aeroht division, and is already in its fifth generation. The sixth design iteration is coming on October 24, 2022, and the media say it should finally get some wheels for driving on public roads. As you can see, the current prototype still lacks the wheels. As for the production, it remains penciled in for ‘a few years later’.