A startup called Archer Aviation is planning to debut a flying "air taxi" in Chicago and New York City starting in 2025, Axios reports.
Archer Aviation is teaming up with United Airlines to offer taxi service from busy metropolitan areas to nearby airports, according to Axios. One proposed service will run between O'Hare International Airport and a helicopter facility near Chicago's South Loop, turning a 45-minute trip into a 10-minute one. Another route would run between downtown Manhattan and Newark's Liberty International Airport.
Axios says Archer hopes to use eVTOL to pull off the job. EVTOL stands for "electric vertical takeoff and landing," meaning it's a battery-powered vehicle that can go straight up and down like a helicopter and doesn't need a runway.
A recent video from CNET shows that the new vehicle design looks like a cross between a helicopter and a small plane, with several tiny propellers instead of one large blade. Each propeller can rotate both vertically to horizontally, so they can both lift the vehicle into the air and propel it forward. The vehicle carries up to four passengers and can travel up to 150 miles per hour.
If successful, this new taxi service will save busy travelers time, especially when going from a downtown office to the airport. The whole vehicle runs on an electric battery, so Axios says it's quieter and creates less pollution than other small aircraft, making it ideal for a taxi service.
If the pilot program is popular, it could lead to future expansion, allowing more short-distance air travel in urban areas. The project is currently waiting on approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Support pets in need with these special-edition memory foam shoes BOBS from Skechers has helped over 2 million shelter pets around the world — and the charity program just announced this year’s Paws for a Cause design-winning sneakers. These "hound huggers" and "kitten kicks" sneakers are machine washable and equipped with memory foam insoles. Plus, they were designed by passionate students who were inspired by their very own rescue pets. BOBS from Skechers is also committed to donating half a million dollars to the Best Friends Animal Society this year to help every dog and cat experience the safety and support of a loving home. |
"The cool thing about these vehicles is that we're not waiting on any new scientific breakthroughs," Archer CEO Adam Goldstein said in an interview with CNET. "We're not waiting on a new battery to come out, or some new special component that doesn't exist today. So that actually makes the technology sprint much more achievable in the near term."
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
Cool Picks
