The flying taxi is supposed to run on hydrogen and is a cooperation with other countries.
We have probably all imagined how it would be like to live with flying cars like in the sitcom ‘The Jetsons’. While it does seem like a distant dream, several companies worldwide are working on making flying cars a reality.
And Ukraine is no different. Recently, the authorities in Kharkiv revealed how two Ukrainian companies named FED JSC and Zhukovsky “KHAI” are set to help create flying taxis with Swiss and Italian companies. The Kharkiv-based companies are supposed to have met with the Swiss company Sauber Engineering AG, which is in Formula One, among others.
“The joint development of Kharkiv scientists and industrialists is a taxi that flies. At the beginning stage, it works on electricity, in the future – on hydrogen. Absolutely in sync with the world and European trends of ecological and energy efficiency. Well, and of course – the fight against traffic jams on the roads,” wrote head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleksandr Skakun on Facebook.
Sauber Engineering AG has been in Kharkiv for several days, explained Skakun. He also wrote that Kharkiv had visits from Italian diplomats. Skakun wrote that the idea is to build a flying taxi, but he couldn’t reveal many details about the project at this stage. He, however, did inform that the project has been running for 1.5 years at this point.
“The delegations have already left. But they left a number of signed contracts. So a dream becomes a reality,” wrote Skakun.
Not the only one looking to produce flying taxis
Several companies worldwide are currently working on building flying cars, which are said to be more reliable than helicopters and have the potential to be much cheaper. Uber has previously been working on producing flying cars, while Hyundai and Toyota have come far in their productions.
“Air transportation has been a long-term goal for Toyota, and while we continue our work in the automobile business, this agreement sets our sights to the sky,” Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda said in a statement last year, according to NBC.
Flying cars are said to be able to limit transportation times.
“Say goodbye to traffic congestion, weather delays, and rental car/Uber hassles. Say hello to freedom,” said Sam Bousfield, CEO of Samson Sky, which is trying to build flying cars.
The company estimates that they would cut the time spent on a 500-mile trip from 10 hours to 3.5 hours. In addition, they aim to produce cars that can both drive and fly.
Toyota expects air travel in cars to take off in 2023, while Hyundai says they find it more realistic to begin around 2028.
