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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.

6 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Worse than a bus by Kohath · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It will leave from a terminal, not from where you are. It will arrive at a terminal, not your destination. It will go on a schedule, not when you're ready. It will be a lot more expensive than a bus ticket. It won't work in bad weather. There will be TSA (unless we come to our senses before 2026).

    It's not an inherently bad idea, but who is it for? Who'll be willing to pay the fare? Who has a 2 hour commute?

    Are they going to swap out the battery with a charged one for the return trip? And why are they saying it will be quiet? Are helicopters loud because of combustion, or because the blades disturb the air?

  2. That's called a "helicopter" by Ranbot · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Vertical Take-off and Landing" (VTOL) vehicle is marketing bullshit for helicopter. Why don't they try working with existing technology? Or at least show us a mass-producible electric-powered helicopter before telling us about your ride-sharing services with one. Seems like putting the cart before the horse. One step at a time there Uber, but thanks for the PR update.

  3. Re: Money for nothin'... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Complete and utter cobblers. In most cities, Uber drivers are vetted far, far less thoroughly than proper taxi drivers, and your chances of being raped, robbed or swindled by one are higher, not lower.

  4. Someone is confused by smooth+wombat · · Score: 3, Interesting

    the aircraft would be used to shorten commute times in busy cities

    Obviously the person who thought up this idea has no idea how traffic in cities work, let alone the other issue of how to navigate between tall, narrowly-spaced buildings.

    And no, the chase scene in Phantom Menace or the sky paths of Bladerunner are not how it's done.

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  5. Obligatory XKCD... by x0ra · · Score: 3, Interesting

    https://xkcd.com/678/

  6. Re:Money for nothin'... by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What they really want to do is to do to Airtraffic what they did to Taxi services.

    Uber is a taxi service that doesn't have to abide by the same laws and regulations that other taxi services do. By not having to follow rules and regulations (By claiming to be ride share).

    They want to provide air-traffic service (maybe intra city at first but willing to bet this becomes inter city) without having any of the airtraffic regulations. I bet this has very little to do with "flying cars" and more to do with circumventing laws to get it done cheaper.

    --
    "That's the way to do it" - Punch