Flying cars are becoming closer to reality than what sci-fi movies may lead you to believe. Another electric flying car “took flight” this week in the US. CEO Doron Merdinger of Miami-based Doroni Aerospace successfully piloted a two-seater personal vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that fits in your garage.
Electric flying cars are arriving in the US
Electric flying cars are all of a sudden taking the US by storm. Last month, California-based Alef Aeronautics revealed its 100% electric flying car, “Model A,” the first of its kind to receive legal approval to fly from the US government.
According to Alef, the Model A has a 200-mile driving range and can fly for 110 miles. The company says it had gathered over 440 orders for its $300K electric flying car within three months.
Tim Draper, an early Tesla investor and well-known venture capitalist, invested $3 million in seed money to help jump-start the program, becoming the pioneering investor. Model A production is slated to begin in late 2025, with deliveries following shortly after.
Meanwhile, on the other US coast, Doroni Aerospace is pioneering its own path. This past week, the company’s CEO became one of the first to successfully test pilot a 2-seater eVTOL in the US.
(Source: Doroni Aerospace / YouTube)
Merdinger explained the test run “felt like floating on a cushion of air, experiencing a level of freedom and excitement that is unparalleled.” Adding, “This is just the beginning for us.”
Speaking on the BloombergBusinessweek Podcast Tuesday, Merdinger, who formerly served in the Israeli Air Force intelligence, explained its manned 2-seater eVTOL, how it works, and what he envisions it being used for.
What’s next for electric flying cars in the US?
When asked about the likelihood of owning a flying car in our lifetime, Merdinger said the company is already doing it.
Although many Sci-fi movies would have you believing flying cars need jet engines, Doroni is doing it with all-electric propellers and semi-autonomous tech.
The eVTOL has ten electric motors altogether. Each of the four ducts contains two e-motors with patented ducted propellers for a total of eight designed for vertical flight and an additional “two pushers for efficient flight.”
The system is simple to use, with semi-autonomous capabilities to guide you to different levels. There is one control stick you push forward, backward, or to the side.
Doroni’s electric flying car concept (Source: Doroni)
According to Doroni’s website, the 23-foot long, 15-foot wide, and 5.5-foot tall eVTOL weighs 1,650 lbs. It also has a top speed of 140 mph (100 mph cruising speed), a 60-mile range, and fast charging from 20% to 80% in under 20 mins.
Merdinger says the company already has over 300 requests for preorders and is aiming to begin deliveries by 2025.
One of its customers, for example, is a doctor who wants to use the eVTOL to take to work and skip traffic.
To fly the electric aircraft, you will need a certification. Currently, you need at least 20 hours of experience, 15 in the vehicle, and another five solo.
Doroni electric flying car concept (Source: Doroni)
The biggest eVTOL segment, according to Merdinger, is the “Air Taxi” or ride-sharing businesses. Many air taxi companies are already aiming to get to market next year.
Although Air Taxi’s are designed for big cities like New York or Chicago, Doroni is not aiming for this market. At least not immediately. Instead, the company says there is enough space to fly everywhere, particularly in suburban areas.
Doroni isn’t looking to fly at 30,000 feet like an aircraft, but instead at just a few hundred feet. The idea behind its electric flying car is not just to get from point A to point B but rather to “enjoy nature,” according to Merdinger.
The company expects to produce about 120 to 125 units by 2025 or 2026, with plans to scale up to 2,500 annually.
Electrek’s Take
To be fair, Doroni’s eVTOL taking off vertically doesn’t exactly convince me that flying cars will be on the streets anytime soon.
The company has a unique vision involving personal use, unlike many companies looking to use eVTOLs for ride-sharing in cities. At the same time, Doroni is showing more than most “flying car” companies in terms of what its tech is able to accomplish.
Like Merdinger said, “this is just the beginning,” as the company continues to work to bring its electric flying car to market. We’ll keep you updated on the flying electric car market. Stay tuned for more.
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“These ‘OpenAI tokens’ are not OpenAI equity,” OpenAI wrote on X. “We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it.”
The company said that “any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval — we did not approve any transfer,” and warned users to “please be careful.”
Robinhood announced the launch Monday from Cannes, France, as part of a broader product showcase focused on tokenized equities, staking, and a new blockchain infrastructure play. The company’s stock surged above $100 to hit a new all-time high following the news.
“These tokens give retail investors indirect exposure to private markets, opening up access, and are enabled by Robinhood’s ownership stake in a special purpose vehicle,” a Robinhood spokesperson said in response to the OpenAI post.
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Robinhood offered 5 euros worth of OpenAI and SpaceX tokens to eligible EU users who signed up to trade stock tokens by July 7. The assets are issued under the EU’s looser investor restrictions via Robinhood’s crypto platform.
“This is about expanding access,” said Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood’s SVP and GM of crypto. “The goal with tokenization is to let anyone participate in this economy.”
The episode highlights the dynamic between crypto platforms seeking to democratize access to financial products and the companies whose names and equity are being represented on-chain
U.S. users cannot access these tokens due to regulatory restrictions.
Despite the warnings, BYD continues introducing new discounts. On Wednesday, BYD’s luxury off-road brand began offering over 50% Huawei’s smart driving tech.
BYD introduces new discounts on smart driving tech
After BYD cut prices again in May, the China Automobile Manufacturers Association (CAMA) warned that the ultra-low prices are “triggering a new round of price war panic.”
Although they didn’t single out BYD, it was pretty obvious. BYD slashed prices across 22 of its vehicles by up to 34%, triggering several automakers to follow suit in China.
BYD’s cheapest EV, the Seagull, typically starts at about $10,000 (66,800 yuan). After the price cuts, the Seagull is listed at under $8,000 (55,800 yuan).
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It doesn’t look like China’s EV leader plans to slow down anytime soon. Fang Cheng Bao, BYD’s luxury off-road brand, introduced new discounts on Huawei’s smart driving tech on Wednesday.
The limited-time offer cuts the price of Huawei’s Qiankun Intelligent Driving High-end Function Package to just 12,000 yuan ($1,700).
BYD Fang Cheng Bao 5 SUV testing (Source: Fang Cheng Bao)
Buyers who order the smart driving tech in July will save over 50% compared to its typical price of 32,000 yuan ($4,500).
Earlier this year, Fang Chang Bao launched the Tai 3, its most affordable vehicle, starting at 139,800 yuan ($19,300). The Tai 3 is about the size of the Tesla Model Y, but costs about half as much.
BYD Fang Cheng Bao Tai 3 electric SUV (Source: Fang Cheng Bao)
The Tai 3 will spearhead a new sub-brand of electric SUVs following the more premium Bao 8 and Bao 5 hybrid SUVs.
BYD’s luxury off-road brand sold 18,903 vehicles last month, up 50% from May and 605% compared to last year. Fang Cheng Bao has now sold over 10,000 vehicles for three consecutive months.
The Chinese EV giant sold 382,585 vehicles in total in June, an increase of 12% from last year. In the first half of the year, BYD’s cumulative sales reached over 2.1 million, a YOY increase of 33%.
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Every year, it seems like there’s a new headline about the world’s lightest electric bike. Each year, engineers manage to shave a few more grams off of an exotically designed frame built with even more exotic materials. And each year, the continuously lower weight is balanced by continuously higher prices – often exorbitantly high. But now Dahon has bucked that trend, offering us an incredibly lightweight electric bike at a price that normal e-bike riders can afford. Meet the Dahon K-Feather.
To put things in perspective, some of the previous lightest electric bicycles have included the 11.8 kg (26 lb) LeMond Prolog at US $4,500, the 11.75 kg (12.59 lb) Trek Domane+ SLR at US $8,999, and the 10 kg (22 lb) Hummingbird Flax folding e-bike at US $6,050.
So with that in mind, please allow me to introduce you to the new Dahon K-Feather. This is a 12 kg (26.5 kg) folding electric bike priced at an incredibly reasonable US $1,199 in North America or €1,499 in Europe.
Sure, it’s not the absolute lightest folding e-bike we’ve ever seen, but it’s 90% of the way there and at a quarter of the price. Plus, it comes from Dahon, which is one of the most respected names in the folding bike world and is largely credited with paving the way for the booming folding bike industry we see today. Since the 1980s, Dahon’s innovative designs have been imitated around the world, yet the folding bike maker has continued to innovate and stay several steps ahead of competing brands.
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The K-feather achieves its extra low weight through the combination of a novel frame design employing Dahon’s patented frame designs, including the company’s DELTECH technology and “super down tube,” which help improve rigidity and robustness while reducing weight.
The electrical system on the K-Feather is also a featherweight, keeping the e-bike largely in the last-mile category. While the battery claims a maximum range of up to 24.8 miles (40 km), real-world riding and hilly terrain could reduce that range. Still, clever designs like a system that automatically shuts off the extra motor power when detecting a downhill segment help to eke out more range from the small 24V and 5Ah battery.
The ultra-lightweight 250W hub motor also offers just 32 Nm of torque, meaning the assist is more of a helpful push than a powerful shove. But with the inclusion of a torque sensor for the pedal assist, that push comes on quickly and reliably, making the bike feel more like a traditional analog bike being pedaled by someone with extra strong legs.
With 16″ dual-wall rims and 14g spokes, this isn’t the heavy fat tire folding e-bikes we’re used to in North America, and the capacity reflects that. The K-Feather is rated to support riders weighing up to 105 kg (231 lb), though the highly adjustable seating position can support a range of rider heights from 145 to 190.5 cm (4’9″ to 6’3″).
Coming in six colorways, the Dahon K-feather folding e-bike is now available in the US and has launched for pre-order in Europe, with shipments there expected in September.
I had a bit of a preview of the K-feather on my last trip to China when I was able to visit Dahon’s headquarters and test ride the bike.
I still can’t believe how light it felt, both underneath me and while folding it up and carrying it around. Be on the lookout for that full experience from my trip, coming soon.
Electrek’s Take
The K-Feather represents a compelling milestone not just for Dahon, but for the entire folding e-bike market. By delivering a truly lightweight, compact, and fully electric folder at an impressively affordable price point, Dahon has made minimalist e-mobility more accessible than ever.
It’s not just a bike for die-hard lightweight e-bike connoisseurs; it’s a real-world solution for commuters, travelers, and apartment dwellers who want the freedom of electric assist without the bulk or the sticker shock. If the goal is to get more people on two wheels, the K-Feather might just be one of the most important steps forward yet.
Coming in at less than half the weight of most folding e-bikes, and still a fraction of most lighter-duty folders, the K-Feather’s modest performance makes it a great urban ride for those who favor compact size and light weight. In fact, I think it might be perfect for my mother-in-law, who needs an e-bike to get to and from the train she takes to work, but also needs it to be light enough to carry up to her second-story apartment. Hmmm, perhaps I should have her do a review for us…
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