US-based company ASKA unveiled the first fully-functional prototype of the “ASKA A5” electric drive and fly vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2023. The ASKA A5 is the first four-seater flying car in the world, and it can fly up to 250 miles on a single charge while traveling on the ground. The company is also unveiling the ASKA on-demand ride service, which is set to begin operations in 2026 and will consist of a fleet of ASKA cars operating on-demand in important cities and their environs.
“Our unveiling at CES represents something the world has never accomplished, but humans have dreamed of for decades: a fully functional, full-scale prototype of Drive & Fly Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing, an actual flying vehicle.” car. We’re making history with ASKA and defining the next 100 years of transportation,” ASKA co-founder/CEO Guy Kaplinsky said in a statement.
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Furthermore, to perform a vertical take-off or landing, a flying car needs a compact space such as a helipad or vertiport. According to the company, the vehicle also fits into existing parking spaces and can be charged at home and at EV charging stations. The company said that the vehicle has also been built to meet the highest safety standards.
For example, the ASKA has large wings that can glide the ship to a safe landing in an emergency. It is powered by two sources of energy – batteries and an engine. Six propellers, one on each wing, provide additional redundancy for safe landing.
The ASKA includes a ballistic parachute to save the entire aircraft in case of an emergency, the company said. The ASKA A5 is targeted for commercialization by 2026. However, pre-order reservations are now being accepted on the company’s official site, the company said.
With inputs from IANS