Kathmandu, 19 Aug: Humans have long dreamed of flying in the sky like birds, helicopter and paragliders. The air taxi recently developed by China is a new experiment in this regard.
The flying taxi, built by Chinese automobile company Changan with technical support from another Chinese company, E-Han, has arrived in Kathmandu. It is the first time it has been brought to Nepal.
A flying taxi, along with various other models of vehicles, will be a special attraction at the Nepal Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA) exhibition, which will run from Bhadra 3 to 8(Aug 19-24) at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu.
This state-of-the-art technology taxi has been brought to Nepal by the company ‘MAW Vriddhi Autocorp’.
MAW has been importing electric taxis under Changan’s popular product ‘Deepal’ brand. The ‘Deepal S-05’ was recently launched.
This electric-powered, autonomous air taxi is called ‘Electric-Vertical Take-Off and Landing’ (E-VTOL). As the name suggests, it doesn’t need a runway to take off. It takes off straight up from the ground at a 90-degree angle, like a helicopter, and lands straight down.
Various models have been built. Among them, the model brought to Nepal is ‘EH216-S’. This flying taxi is considered a suitable option for short-distance flights within cities and emergency services. There is also talk that it will change the nature of air transport in the future.
In this story, we discuss the technical features of the much-awaited flying taxi at the 17th edition of the NADA Auto Show.
Along with that; we will also discuss its structure, price, and commercial potential.
Technical specifications
This air taxi uses 16 electric motors and 16 blades (propellers) along with those motors. In colloquial language, a propeller can be called a ‘fan’. Its function is to generate power by rotating the air vigorously, which pushes this flying taxi up and down or forward and backward.
Here, each motor is connected to a fan. When 16 motors are running at the same time, the fans connected to them start rotating together.
The same system is used in the drones we see today. The difference is that a typical drone has only four propellers. So a drone can only carry a simple camera. Its flight is also unstable. Whereas, an air taxi with 16 motors and 16 propellers can carry a lot of weight. It remains balanced and stable in the air. It is also easy to take off, land, and change direction in the air.
Speaking of batteries, a battery with a capacity of 20-25 kilowatt-hours has been used. This means that it can store 20-25 kilowatts of energy in an hour.
Typically, a typical EV scooter has a battery with a capacity of 2-3 kilowatt-hours. A small electric taxi has a battery with a capacity of about 24 kilowatt-hours. So the battery used in this flying taxi can provide enough power to fly in the sky.
This taxi flies up to a maximum altitude of 3000 meters above the ground. Once fully charged, it can fly for about 35 kilometers. Its maximum speed is 130 kilometers per hour. It has the ability to fly for up to 21 minutes at a time. It takes two hours to fully recharge the battery.
This flying taxi is not designed for group travel. It can only carry a maximum of two passengers. Similarly, various media outlets have mentioned that it can carry a weight of about 220 kg.
Construction and safety of the taxi
At first glance, it looks like a large taxi bird. Its two doors open upwards like the wings of a bird. Glass has been used in the roof and doors, which makes it easy to see the surrounding scenery while flying in the sky. The fans are also placed in such a way that they do not obstruct the view.
Views that cannot be seen while flying in airplanes and helicopters can be easily seen from this flying taxi.
It has a seat that can accommodate two passengers. Between the two seats is an 8 to 10-inch screen. That screen displays information such as the taxi’s speed, how much battery is used, how high it is flying, and how far it has to go.
Adequate arrangements have been made for the safety of passengers.
Most importantly, since 16 motors and 16 fans are used, even if one of them stops working, the others will continue to work. This prevents problems with safe flight and landing.
For safety, six cameras and sensors have been installed, which provide a 360-degree view of the surroundings. In particular, the front and side cameras prevent collisions with tall buildings, while the lower camera assists in landing. These cameras also prevent collisions with birds.
Cameras and sensors installed in the taxi immediately notify the driver if an obstacle is encountered while flying.
This taxi is fully automated. It does not have a pilot. The passenger must determine the destination before taking off. Based on that, the artificial intelligence (AI) used in the taxi determines the flight route.
If a technical problem arises or an emergency occurs, a safe landing can be achieved via parachute.
Although ample safety measures are in place, it is best not to fly an air taxi during heavy rain, strong winds, or lightning. In such cases, the flight should be stopped and the aircraft should descend immediately.
Market price
The high-priced taxis are unlikely to be used for personal use. In China, they cost $333,000 (about Rs. 46.6 million) and in the international market, they cost $410,000 (Rs. 57.4 million).
The company has stated that its price in the Nepali market will be between 70 and 80 million rupees. There is a possibility that wealthy countries will use it in emergency services.
In the context of Nepal, this taxi is unlikely to be used immediately, either at the public or private levels. That is why the exhibition at Bhrikutimandap has attracted a lot of interest and attention.
The NADA Auto Show, which has been taking place for the past 17 years, is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. It is a major trade exhibition in Nepal, in which importers and dealers from the automobile sector participate and display their new brands of cars, motorcycles and scooters.
This is also an important opportunity for consumers. Some companies offer attractive discounts to consumers who book vehicles during the exhibition. This also increases interest in the exhibition.
