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Uber's 'Elevate' Project Aims To Bring Flying Electric Cars To Cities By 2026 (businessinsider.com)

Posted by msmash on from the flying-to-work dept.

Uber has revealed a new project through which it aims to bring flying cars to commuters by 2026. The company published a white paper today outlining its plans for Uber Elevate, a network of on-demand electric aircraft. Business Insider adds: Known as VTOL aircraft -- short for Vertical Take-Off and Landing -- the aircraft would be used to shorten commute times in busy cities, turning a two-hour drive into a 15-minute trip. According to a piece out from Wired on the new plans, Uber doesn't plan to build the aircraft themselves. The ride-hailing company will bring together private companies and the government to deal with the larger issues of making this project a reality, Wired reports. The vehicles would be able to travel at about 150 mph for up to 100 miles and carry multiple people, including a pilot, according to Wired.

5 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Money for nothin'... by meta-monkey · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The ride-hailing company will bring together private companies and the government to deal with the larger issues of making this project a reality

    "We don't actually want to do any of the work. You guys handle that. We just want the profits."

    --
    We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
    1. Re: Money for nothin'... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Compare that to taxis, where in some cities you couldn't be sure whether you'd be robbed or raped when taking a ride. Uber solves this problem, at least mostly.

      your chances of being raped, robbed or swindled by one [with Uber] are higher [than with a taxicab], not lower.

      [citation needed] on the both of you.

    2. Re:Money for nothin'... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Hard to see this working at all. Instead of hundreds of different cities with varying rules about who can drive on their roads and 50 states with similarly varying rules you have one Federal entity - the FAA which strictly regulates air traffic from the top of your lawn to the Karmin line. They are not going to be bluffed into changing rules for commercial human air traffic because a bunch of avaricious Millennials want to hone in on the action.

      You want to start an airline, fine. Go ahead. Be prepared. It's not all that easy.

      Especially when you don't even have the aircraft design.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  2. Uber Teleportation by DirkDaring · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They should announce that too since it has about the same percent of it happening in 10 years.

  3. faa says they can't be a private pilot and cost of by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    faa says they can't be a private pilot and cost of all of the safety stuff add's up fast.