Xpeng X2 flying car launched in Europe

In a post-COVID world where personal transport is becoming more sought-after than ever, a Chinese electric car-maker has revealed the latest iteration of its autonomous electric flying car in the Netherlands this month, the Xpeng X2.

Xpeng wants to sell the multi-copter for under one million yuan, which equates to around $210,000 in Australia at current exchange rates, or roughly the same price as an entry-level six-cylinder BMW 7 Series.

Boasting an airborne range of around 75km and a top speed of 130km/h, the two-seat Xpeng X2 Voyager or Traveller (depending on the translation), is being readied for a 2024 launch in its home market, according to Xpeng.

The Chinese EV brand is currently shopping its new airborne toy in various global markets in a bid to better understand personal aircraft regulations and to certify the vehicle for different jurisdictions.

The Xpeng X2 is an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) vehicle and has been through several concepts since 2017 as it nears production-ready status.

The fuselage is made of carbon-fibre to keep weight to around 360kg unladen and the futuristic-looking aircraft is due to make its first official test flight in the EU in the first half of 2022.

Maximum take-off weight is said to be around 560kg, so the 200kg payload may or may not include scope for some luggage beyond two passengers.

The Xpeng X2 has a cruising altitude of between 300 and 500 metres, or around 1000 to 1600 feet, and has a flying time of around 35 minutes on a full battery charge.

Xpeng has not confirmed battery density for the Xpeng, which incorporates an electric motor for each of its eight rotors, but expect to see a number of different models, some with longer ranges.

Like compact drones from companies like DJR, the Chinese two-seater will deliver autonomous take-off, landing and flying capabilities.

And in case things go sideways mid-flight, it has several safety features such as individual propellor motors, so if one fails the rest will compensate. There’s even a ballistic parachute system if things really go pear-shaped.

Several flying cars have already undergone test flights, such as the AirCar, and the PAL-V Liberty is now road-legal in Europe – but not air-legal yet.

Car-makers like Toyota, Hyundai and Renault are also developing their own flying cars, while the world’s first flying car racing championship is in its infancy right here in Australia as the technology continues to evolve via real-world testing.

Uber Air is proposing to launch its fleet of flying taxis in Melbourne – one of three pilot cities along with Los Angeles and Dallas in the USA – in the next couple years.

While flying cars are unlikely to be as common as the ubiquitous Toyota Corolla any time soon, countless car and tech companies are sinking significant capital into the idea. McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm, last year canvassed almost 5000 people across six international markets to gauge consumer interest in using air taxis, and the results were mixed.

Like the race to certify autonomous cars, the major hurdle facing flying cars are the laws that need to be ratified to regulate them, which will be made on a case by case basis in different countries around the world.

However, the idea of private short-distance air travel to allow quick and easy transport for those willing to pay for it – instead of sitting in ground-car gridlock – will hold appeal for some.

During the static launch of the Xpeng X2 flying car in the Netherlands, the Secretary General of the European Association for Electric Mobility (AVERE), Phillipe Vangeel, indicated strong interest in flying cars for both personal and cargo transportation requirements.

“So we need to rethink all ways of transport, and this [flying car] is definitely one of the options that you can see.”

“I am really positive and looking forward that this can be achieved also in the European continent.”

The Xpeng X2 will be built by the Xpeng Heitech firm, which secured more than $US500 million in funding in 2021.