Brazil: Aerospace manufacturer, Embraer plans to build electric flying taxi factory
Electric flying taxis are expected to start flying in 2026, according to the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, who plans to construct a new factory close to Sao Paulo to make them.
The aircraft, which will be produced by its subsidiary Eve, will look like a small helicopter and have room for up to six passengers.
A trip is expected to cost between $50 and $100 (£39 and £78) per person.
According to Eve, it has orders for almost 3,000 air taxis already.
It plans to put together a prototype this year. According to a timeline recently released by US regulators, air taxis could start operating there as early as 2025.
The electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft will not require a runway and can fly long distances like an airplane. Comparatively speaking to conventional aircraft, electric motors should produce less noise and pollution.
While not being prohibitively expensive for passengers, it has been argued that the aircraft could help ease traffic congestion in crowded cities. They have additionally been considered as a substitute for shipping cargo.
The factory will be built in Taubate, a city that is 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Sao Paulo, the country’s economic center.
According to the AFP news agency, taxi fleets will be the first to use the drone-like passenger vehicles.
The company plans to roll out self-piloted vehicles later, but the initial flights will have a pilot.
Since the vehicles are entirely electric, flights won’t produce any emissions.
Source-BBC
