/Chery Takes To The Skies With A Flying Car
Flying cars have long been a staple of sci-fi dreams, a futuristic fantasy that always seemed just out of reach. But with Chery’s latest innovation, that future is creeping closer to reality. At the Chery Global Innovation Conference in Anhui, China, the company unveiled its first self-driving flying prototype – fittingly named the “Land and Air Vehicle.”
An Exciting Step Into Urban Air Mobility
While the concept of flying cars isn’t new (early attempts date back to the first half of the 20th century), none have truly taken off in the real world. Only a handful have moved beyond the concept phase, and even fewer have successfully tested with passengers on board.
The Land and Air Vehicle features a three-body hybrid-wing structure, integrating an aircraft, an intelligent cockpit, and an intelligent chassis. Built on Chery’s S2MA-scalable intelligent Mars architecture, this revolutionary machine takes cues from Tesla’s Cybercab and Robovan – both fully autonomous vehicles that ditch pedals and steering wheels in favour of cutting-edge AI-driven control.
Chery’s Car Completed An 80km Test Flight
Chery’s flying car is already proving its potential. It completed an 80-kilometre test flight, marking a huge milestone in the resolve to revolutionize urban air mobility.
Designed for short-distance commuting, the vehicle can switch between autonomous flying and ground-driving modes and allows users to bypass traffic congestion with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. It’s fully electric, built for two passengers, and can reach speeds of 120 km/h in the air while flying at altitudes of up to 1,000 meters. However, its flight duration is currently capped at 40 minutes – a limit that could improve with future advancements.
Chery’s has showcased its expertise in autonomous driving in this prototype. The vehicle is designed to navigate obstacles and adapt to changing conditions without human input, pushing the boundaries of AI-assisted transportation.
Chery’s New Solid-State Battery Could Take EVs Even Further
Beyond the flying car, Chery is also making major strides in battery technology. At the Anhui conference, the company introduced Kunpeng, a new battery brand specialising in all-solid-state batteries. Initially launching with 6C fast-charging technology, Chery aims to hit an energy density of 400 Wh/kg by the end of 2024 and 600 Wh/kg by 2025. If successful, this could extend EV ranges up to 1,500 km, with mass production expected by 2027.
Are We Finally On The Verge Of Flying Cars?
For decades, the idea of flying cars was met with scepticism, dismissed as a pipe dream or a punchline to tech industry jokes. But we’ve all been there – sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic and wishing we could lift off and fly above it all.
Of course, there are still challenges to overcome, and we may be far from swapping our everyday cars for flying ones, but the potential is definitely there. Air traffic regulations, infrastructure, and affordability will all play a role in determining how soon we’ll see flying cars as a mainstream option. But with major automakers like Chery making real progress, the once-distant dream is starting to feel a lot more tangible.
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