Paris officials savage planned 2024 Olympics air taxi introduction
The planned global introduction of air taxi services next year during the Paris Summer Olympics already risks being grounded, after city authorities from across party lines joined up this week to lavishly dump on what elsewhere in France and the world has been the tech’s much-ballyhooed debut.
National and regional officials in France have been bustling to complete aerial and ground infrastructure preparations in time to roll out the world’s first air taxi operations next summer, when all eyes will already be on the Paris-hosted Summer Olympic Games. But elected officials used municipal meetings this week to vent their long-simmering anger at the push to get next generation aircraft into the city’s skies – and, if possible, keep it from happening altogether.
One of those numerous critics, Dan Lert, derided what has generally been hailed as the sustainable, emissions-free, affordable future of public transportation as “a useless, polluting gadget (to be) reserved for the ultra-privileged.”
And he’s an Ecologist.
Lert, meanwhile, was joined by a large majority of officials from across the political spectrum who spoke at the regularly held Council of Paris meeting to blast away at the Volocopter air taxis scheduled to operate around and over city during and after the Summer Olympics.
The reasons for the shared opposition were diverse. Officials to the left argued that air taxis – which are expected to cost at least €110 ($120) per ride – are being prepared as gifts to rich people wanting to avoid heavy Paris car traffic during the Olympics, and gain a few minutes by using what will be fairly short aerial routes.
Others said the additional noise created by the flights will ruin the steadily eroding quality of life of Parisians, and create safety risk of still developing air taxi tech dropping from what (they continued) were already crowded city skies.
“To save few minutes for a handful of affluent people ignorant and disdaining of the global warming emergency, we’d be polluting the atmosphere, destroying the sonar environment,” warned Socialist Party official Florian Sitbon.
Conservative municipal counsellor Claire de Clermont-Tonnerre also leveled environmental criticism at the plan to operate air taxis both during the Olympics and through the end of 2024 – creating an estimated total of around 1,900 flights.
“The approximately 190 kWH consumption these flying machines consume per 100 kilometers is two to three times higher than an internal combustion engine car transporting a single passenger,” de Clermont-Tonnerre said – possibly disgusted that air taxis aren’t power by the same “clean” nuclear tech most of France is.
She also noted the introduction of air taxis in time for the Olympics follows Paris having only just moved to rid itself of the anarchy-creating rental e-scooters that residents had come to loathe.
“This is a new form (of transportation) we have absolutely no need of… just as we experienced with rental e-scooters,” she urged.
So are Paris air taxis already fini just seven months before they’re scheduled to begin operation?
Perhaps. Yet it’s worth noting a considerable portion of the bombast of Paris officials is rooted in the wider nation’s pronounced disgust of the national leadership. Its litany of aloof and heavy-handed actions includes having joined authorities running the capital’s wider region to force the air taxi plan through, with little real consultation. Politics, therefore, is a big motivator in the current aerial counter-offensive.
In addition to that, meanwhile, opponents are seeking to capitalize on a recent report by the independent Autorité environnementale française that aired serious reserves about air taxi services over central Paris. Detractors are also looking to influence opinions expressed in an ongoing public consultation about introducing the craft, which is set to wrap up December 8.
But given the enormous investment already sunk into the plan – and the windfall of pride and prestige to be had at being the first nation to initiate air taxis – it’s likely France’s government will either negotiate or (per its habit) steamroll its Olympics introduction of services into being, no matter the degree of opposition.
If so, the far more important broader question for the sector will become whether that political force-feeding – along with any potential down-sides created by electric aircraft operation – winds up sufficiently souring Paris and the rest of France on the emerging air taxi option, and thus delaying its veritable adoption for months or even years after the Olympic Games and its hoopla have packed up and gone.
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Nissan announced the new LEAF will start at just £32,249 in the UK after it became eligible for the maximum discount under the government’s Electric Car Grant.
The new Nissan LEAF gets a price cut with UK EV grant
After the UK government expanded the Electric Car Grant program on Friday, drivers will be able to save £3,750 ($4,900) on the new Nissan LEAF.
Nissan announced that the new 2026 LEAF will start at £32,249 ($42,200), including the grant. The government said in a press release that the discount will help boost Nissan’s sales, while also supporting jobs and UK manufacturing.
The new LEAF is on sale, and Nissan plans to begin production at its Sunderland plant in December. The first customer deliveries are scheduled for February.
Nissan’s new LEAF will be available in four trims: Engage, Engage +, Advance, and Evolve. Initially, all versions will be equipped with a 75 kWh battery, providing a range of up to 386 miles (WLTP). Nissan said a cheaper 52 kWh battery pack will be available, delivering a range of up to 271 miles, which could bring prices under £30,000 ($39,300).
With 150 kW DC fast charging, the new LEAF can add 273 miles in about 30 minutes. It’s also the first vehicle to feature Nissan’s new 3-in-1 electric powertrain, boasting 160 kW (215 HP) and 355 Nm of torque.
The interior is revamped with new dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens with Google built in. Upgrading to the Engage+ or higher trim gets a bigger 14.3″ multimedia screen.
Including the new grant, the LEAF Engage+ trim is priced from £33,149, the Advance starts at £34,249, and the Evolve trim from £36,249.
For those in the US, the 2026 Nissan LEAF has the “lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale,” starting at just $29,990. It’s available in three trims: S+, SV+, and Platinum+, offering up to 303 miles of range. That’s a 25% improvement from the outgoing model.
Interested in checking it out for yourself? You can use our link to find available 2026 Nissan LEAF models near you.
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Looking for a smarter, cooler, and genuinely more comfortable way to commute this winter? The NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter has officially entered the chat — and for Black Friday, it’s dropping to an unmissable low price. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to commit to electric travel, this is it.
From November 17 to December 2 (PDT), the NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter is 20% off, reducing the price from USD $949.99 to $759.99. Canadian pricing drops from CAD $1,299.99 to $971.09. (On Amazon, the discount window is November 20 to December 1 (PDT).)
And if that wasn’t already awesome, NAVEE has tacked on an extra 5% off for Electrek readers when you use one of these codes:
- Official Website: Use code ST3PRO5 — valid in the US & Canada through February 28, 2026
- Amazon: Use code NAVEEST3PRO — valid in the US & Canada through February 28, 2026
Why the NAVEE ST3 Pro is a standout
The NAVEE ST3 Pro pushes the boundaries of what an electric scooter can be. It’s built for real-world riders who want power, range, comfort, and safety with their convenience.
Auto‑grade ride comfort
The automotive‑grade Damping Arm™ suspension system uses four swinging polymer arms on both front and rear wheels, absorbing impact in ways traditional scooters simply can’t. Whether you’re rolling over brick roads, patched‑up potholes, or gravel, the ST3 Pro smooths out the chaos.
Power that actually counts
The 48-volt platform delivers up to 1350W of peak power, allowing you to power through 28% inclines without any power loss. Switch into Sport Mode when you want max speed of up to 25 mph, confidence, and faster reaction ability.
Safety is priority
With the triple braking system, NAVEE didn’t hold back:
- Disc brake
- Drum brake
- Automotive‑grade eABS + traction control
This blend gives you enhanced stopping precision and a shorter braking distance, even during high‑speed or downhill commutes.
Long ranges that end anxiety
The ST3 Pro features a 596.7Wh battery system offering up to 46.6 miles of TÜV‑certified range at maximum speed. That’s nearly two days of commuting for many riders. For comparison, the ST3 model, with its 477.36Wh battery, achieves a range of up to 37.5 miles.
Regenerative braking adds even more efficiency, reclaiming up to 12% of total range.
Style + smart features
Want a scooter that looks as good as it rides? The ST3 Pro goes full futuristic with ambient lighting built right into the footboard – and not just a basic glow, but 15 fully selectable lighting modes to match your mood. Control it all with a tap in the NAVEE app.
Both the ST3 and ST3 Pro also come fully kitted with commuter‑ready lighting and connectivity:
- Bright headlight for late‑night rides
- Clean, visible taillight + turn indicators for safer signaling
- Full companion app support for smart control, monitoring, and customization
Final thoughts
The NAVEE ST3 Pro isn’t just another Black Friday discount — it’s a chance to level up your urban commute with comfort, precision, and premium technology that feels years ahead.
The 20% off sale runs from November 17 to December 2 (PDT) (on Amazon, it runs November 20 to December 1 (PDT)) — don’t miss out. And don’t forget to use the extra 5% off codes for Electrek readers of ST3PRO5 on the official website and NAVEEST3PRO on Amazon.
You can buy the NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter at the following links:
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Yamaha is doubling down on urban electrification in Japan with the launch of its new Jog E electric scooter – and in a twist that we’ve been waiting years to see, it runs on Honda’s Mobile Power Pack e: swappable batteries.
Yamaha shared on its social media that the Jog E is set to begin a region-limited pre-sale on December 22, 2025, exclusively through Yamaha EV shops in Tokyo and Osaka. This rollout makes it the first Yamaha two-wheeler built around the Mobile Power Pack e system, which is becoming Japan’s de facto standard thanks to the joint battery-swap venture Gachaco.
It’s the result of an initiative that began way back in 2019, when many of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers built a consortium to develop a single swappable battery standard. At the time, it was seen largely as a way to compete against Gogoro, which had already developed a single swappable battery standard. Ultimately, instead of developing a battery standard, the consortium simply chose to elect Honda’s relatively little-used battery design as its standard. Now we’re finally seeing that battery employed in another major motorcycle maker’s vehicles.
A Yamaha built for battery swapping
Unlike typical electric scooters sold with a fixed battery, the Jog E is offered as a body-only purchase. Riders must separately subscribe to Gachaco’s paid battery-sharing service, which gives access to swap stations located throughout major cities.
As of now, Gachaco operates 42 battery swapping stations in Tokyo, 7 stations in Osaka, and 2 stations in Saitama. It’s a far cry from the thousands of stations operated by Taiwanese competitors like Gogoro and Kymco, but it’s a start.
It also means Yamaha is restricting initial sales to Tokyo and Osaka EV stores, ensuring that buyers actually have infrastructure available. Yamaha says standalone batteries and chargers will arrive in the second half of 2026 for riders who prefer to own rather than swap.
Built for stop-and-go city life
Yamaha says the Jog E is tuned specifically for dense urban commuting, with smooth acceleration for constant stop-and-go traffic, plus familiar Yamaha scooter ergonomics and universal EV-forward design touches. We don’t get performance specs yet, but the urban focus means we’re likely looking at limited power and speed figures.
Riders will get two color options at launch: dark gray and light gray. Not exactly going nuts with the color wheel, there.
Pricing lands at 159,500 yen (about US$1,050), though that excludes battery service fees, registration, insurance, and other common costs.
Part of Yamaha’s bigger climate strategy
Yamaha says the Jog E plays a key role in the company’s path toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Specifically, it helps reduce emissions under “Scope 3, Category 11” – basically emissions generated from customers using Yamaha products.
The scooter also symbolizes a closer collaboration among Japan’s Big Four motorcycle makers, all of whom co-founded Gachaco along with energy giant ENEOS. Battery swapping is shaping up to be Japan’s most aggressive approach to mainstreaming electric two-wheelers, and the Jog E is a big step in that direction.
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