eVTOLs are here to stay

One of the most recent advances in the aeronautical industry is the eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing), an aerial vehicle which, in addition to taking off vertically and moving in any direction, has several advantages over traditional vehicles and could have a wide variety of applications in the future. The use of aerial vehicles has become a necessary means to speed up some tasks that would naturally take more time.

A long time ago, we would never have imagined that air taxis would be able to transport people with considerably reduced travel times, or that an eVTOL could rescue and transport victims of hurricanes, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions to safety. These systems have the facility to reach areas where ground vehicles are ineffective, such as rivers, forests and mountains.

Furthermore, eVTOLs are coming to solve the growing need for new, more sustainable and beneficial vehicles, not only to reduce traffic and pollution levels, but they will also be a disruptor for the existing mobility infrastructure network, as this type of infrastructure is mainly virtual and therefore requires lower cost. In contrast to underground systems, which are physical and have a very costly construction.

With a growing industry developing and investing in electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the term flying taxis is becoming a reality that is far from science fiction. What expectations will travelers have when taxis start flying?

Test flights with eVTOL aircraft are already underway

Test flights with eVTOL aircraft are already underway. Flying taxis are expected to become a reality in the near future. Some studies estimate that by around 2040 there will be 430,000 air taxis flying in the sky. EVTOLs are set to open up a wide range of applications, which could include:

• Air taxi: This will be one of the main applications of eVTOL. It will allow people to travel faster and avoid congested areas. It will also represent more sustainable mobility.
• Visits to tourist areas: eVTOLs will transform the way we conduct sightseeing tours. As well as democratizing the aerial perspective of areas or monuments of interest, they will significantly reduce the carbon footprint that the tourism industry generates. They will give us access to more remote and unexplored areas and allow for the customization of tourist trips never seen before.
• Rescue and medical assistance: eVTOLs will be a critical tool for rapid response to emergency situations. In this way, they will be able to assist people in medical emergencies as they will be able to move the necessary equipment in a short space of time. It will also make it possible to reach areas that are difficult to access for rescue or emergency transport in the event of natural disasters or other catastrophes that may occur.
• Surveillance: eVTOLs will open up a multitude of uses in the field of surveillance. In this way, their applications can include traffic or border control, among others, facilitating faster responses.
• Recreational leasing: As the use of eVTOLs becomes more widespread and gains market share as a means of transport, the possibility of recreational leasing will emerge. The driving experience will be a great attraction for those seeking new experiences by piloting an aircraft
• Racing: eVTOLs can provide more recreational solutions such as racing in the eVTOL segment. Competitions where aircraft compete in the sky offering high doses of adrenaline.