SpaceX-backed startup says preorders for its 0,000 futuristic flying car have reached 2,850

SpaceX-backed startup says preorders for its $300,000 futuristic flying car have reached 2,850

Published

2 months ago

March 4, 2024

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Alef CEO: 2025 target for flying car 'actually pretty realistic'

BARCELONA, Spain — Alef Aeronautics, a SpaceX-backed flying car firm, says it has reached 2,850 preorders for its futuristic electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle.

Alef Aeronautics, which is based in San Mateo, California, said preorder numbers recently hit a fresh record after previously reporting 2,500 preorders for its two-seater flying car, the Alef Model A.

Customers can access preorders for the Model A online, and to preorder, you have to put down a $150 deposit for the vehicle. Customers can pull the deposit at any time if they want to, so they’re not locked in.

Alef is planning to charge customers $300,000 for the Model A when it becomes commercially available — so on 2,850 preorders, that would give it a combined order value of over $850 million to date.

“As of today we have a little bit more than 2,850 preorders with deposits down, which makes it the best-selling aircraft in history, more than Boeing, Airbus, Joby Aviation, and most of the eVTOLs [electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles] combined,” Alef’s CEO Jim Dukhovny told CNBC.

At a price of $300,000, Alef is asking its prospective customers to part with a lot of cash. Dukhovny insists the higher price tag is needed as Alef is still a startup and isn’t making any serious money yet.

Alef Aeronautics’ Model A car, which it showed off at Mobile World Congress as a half-size model, resembles an actual car with a mesh shell protecting rotors on the inside that allow air to flow through the vehicle.

David Zorrakino | Europa Press | Getty Images

Alef is separately working on a four-person sedan, though, the Model Z, which is scheduled for launch by 2035 at a price of $35,000, matching that of cheaper-priced electric vehicles.

Alef is one of several startups attempting to make flying cars a reality. Others include Lilium, the Germany-based air taxi startup, as well as Chinese company Joby Aviation. Last year, South Korean telecom firm SKTelecom told CNBC it plans to launch a flying taxi service in partnership with Joby Aviation in 2025.

Alef is backed by the likes early Tesla investor Tim Draper and Elon Musk’s space exploration firm SpaceX.

How does Alef’s car work?

Most of the players on the market currently are building models that resemble a jet and come with wings attached to the sides, or big helicopter-like rotors.

What Alef is going for is a much more different style of vehicle. The company’s Model A car, which it showed off at Mobile World Congress as a half-size model, resembles an actual car with a mesh shell protecting rotors on the inside that allow air to flow through the vehicle.

Dukhovny calls Alef’s vehicle the “first flying car in history.” He says it’s the first because, rather than the massive drone-like designs we’ve seen in vehicles from the likes of Lilium and Joby Aviation, Alef’s looks like an actual car.

“I know that people have claimed the first flying car,” Dukhovny said. “But we always had the idea that it has to be a car, a physical car, a regular car, as you can see it’s an eVTOL, an electric car. a regular car, drive, park, look, everything as a car, and a vertical takeoff.”

Alef’s car is mainly designed to be driven on the road, but will be able to take to the skies, too.

To drive on the road, the car uses four small engines in each of the wheels, and will drive similar to a normal electric car. It has eight propellers in the front and back of the car, which spin independently at different speeds to allow it to fly in any direction.

The Alef Model A has a cruise speed of 110 miles per hour while in the air, while on the road it is limited to between 25 and 35 miles per hour.

Once it lifts off, the Alef Model A can then turn onto its side while the cockpit swivels so that the driver can continue facing forward and the car practically becomes a biplane with the long sides of the vehicles serving as the top and bottom “wings.”

Targeting 2025 launch

The Alef Model A, which weighs 850 pounds, also qualifies as an ultra-light vehicle, meaning it comes under the same legal classification as small electric vehicles like golf carts.

Dukhovny says that should make it easier for the car to pass key regulatory approvals to get the green light to launch flights in 2025.

“If everything goes right, we plan to, and if we have enough funding, if the law is at least not going to be worse, it’s going to be existing as it is, we plan to start production of the first one by the end of 2025.”

Last year, the Federal Aviation Authority granted Alef a special airworthiness certificate, allowing for limited purposes that include exhibition, research, and development of its flying car. Alef still needs to get further approval to pave the way for consumer flights.

However, Dukhovny concedes that, despite the company’s high preorder number, it’s not going to be able to match that demand straight away.

“It’s crazy how to produce 2,850 vehicles,” Alef’s CEO said. “We’re going to start slow. And when people think that’s a million of those that are going to fly over San Francisco or Barcelona, that’s not going to happen. It’s going to be very slow — one, and then more, and then more,” he added.

Environment

In a milestone, the US exceeds 5 million solar installations

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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In a milestone, the US exceeds 5 million solar installations

US solar installations — Photo by RAZE Solar on Unsplash

The US has now officially surpassed 5 million solar installations, a significant landmark in its shift toward clean energy, according to data released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.

The 5 million milestone comes just eight years after the US achieved its first million in 2016 – a stark contrast to the four decades it took to reach that initial milestone since the first grid-connected solar project in 1973.

Since the beginning of 2020, more than half of all US solar installations have come online, and over 25% have been activated since the Inflation Reduction Act became law 20 months ago. Solar arrays have been installed on homes and businesses and as utility-scale solar farms. The US solar market was valued at $51 billion in 2023.

SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said, “Today, 7% of homes in America have solar, and this number will grow to over 15% of US homes by 2030. Solar is quickly becoming the dominant source of electricity on the grid, allowing communities to breathe cleaner air and lead healthier lives.”

Even with changes in state policies, market trends indicate robust growth in solar installations across the US. According to SEIA forecasts, the number of solar installations is expected to double to 10 million by 2030 and triple to 15 million by 2034.

The residential sector represents 97% of all US solar installations. This sector has consistently set new records for annual installations over the past several years, achieving new highs for five straight years and in 10 out of the last 12 years. The significant growth in residential solar can be attributed to its proven value as an investment for homeowners who wish to manage their energy costs more effectively.

California is the frontrunner with 2 million solar installations, though recent state policies have significantly damaged its rooftop solar market. Meanwhile, other states are experiencing rapid growth. For example, Illinois, which had only 2,500 solar installations in 2017, now boasts over 87,000. Similarly, Florida has seen its solar installations surge from 22,000 in 2017 to 235,000 today.

By 2030, 22 states or territories are anticipated to surpass 100,000 solar installations. The US has enough solar installed to cover every residential rooftop in the Four Corners states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

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Environment

In April, Tesla prices were higher month-over-month but lower year-over-year

Published

13 hours ago

May 15, 2024

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In April, Tesla prices were higher month-over-month but lower year-over-year

Tesla posted larger-than-average ATP (average transaction price) increases month-over-month in April, but its prices were lower year-over-year, reports Kelley Blue Book.

April saw Tesla post a month-over-month ATP increase of 5.7% compared to March, but the EV giant’s prices were lower year-over-year by 3.3%, according to EV transaction price data from Kelley Blue Book’s newly released April Average Transaction Price report.

Tesla prices have been a key driver of volatile price dynamics in both the luxury and EV markets because it’s the highest-volume seller in both segments. Tesla prices plummeted from $62,269 in January 2023 to $50,099 in December 2023, a decline of 19.5%.

EV transaction prices in April were essentially flat compared to March – up roughly 0.1% – at $55,252, an increase of only $75 from the prior month. Year-over-year, the average transaction price for an EV was down 8.5%, thanks in part to price pressure on EVs driven by slowing sales, healthy inventory, and more competition.

EV incentive packages remain well above the industry average, in many cases more than 15-20% of the average transaction price.

Some popular EVs posted significant year-over-year price reductions in April – Ford F-150 Lightning’s transaction prices were down 23%, Ford Mustang Mach-e’s were down 15%, Tesla Model Ys were down 12%, and Hyundai Ioniq 6s were down 10%.

However, most EVs presently transact for prices lower than a year ago by approximately 4-5%.

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Environment

BYD launches new Shark PHEV as its first pickup to rival Toyota’s Hilux, Ford Ranger

Published

13 hours ago

May 15, 2024

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BYD launches new Shark PHEV as its first pickup to rival Toyota's Hilux, Ford Ranger

A new electrified pickup is hitting the global market. China’s BYD introduced its new Shark plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pickup in Mexico this week. The new BYD Shark is poised to compete against top-selling trucks globally, like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.

BYD confirmed its first electrified pickup will be called the Shark last month after years of speculation.

The pickup was spotted for the first time by CarNewsChina at BYD’s facility in November 2022, and the anticipation has been building ever since. We’ve seen leaked patents giving away the design, prototype testing, and more, but the Shark is finally officially here.

BYD introduced the Shark PHEV pickup in Mexico at an overnight launch event. The hybrid pickup will be available in two variants: the GL and GS.

The base GL starts at 899,980 pesos ($53,400), while the GS costs 969,800 pesos ($58,100). Based on BYD’s DMO platform, the Shark features 170 kW (228 hp) front and 150 kW (201 hp) rear motors.

With 429 combined hp, the hybrid truck can sprint from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 5.7 seconds. Powered by a 29.58 kWh BYD Blade battery, the Shark has all-electric NEDC range of 100 km (62 mi). Combined NEDC range is 840 km (522 mi).

Meet BYD’s first pickup, the Shark plug-in hybrid

According to BYD, the Shark has low charge fuel consumption of 7.5 L per 100 km, which is 40% lower than that of full gas-powered engine pickups.

At 5,457 mm long, 1,971 mm wide, and 1,925 mm tall, the BYD Shark will directly rival top-selling trucks like the Toyota Hilux (5,325 mm long X 1,855 mm wide X 1,815 mm tall) and Ford Ranger (5,370 mm long X 1,918 mm wide X 1,884 mm tall).

BYD’s new pickup has up to 5,512 lbs (2,500 kg) towing capacity and 1,841 lbs (835 kg) max payload.

Inside, you can see other BYD design features, such as a rotatable 12.8″ center screen and 10.25″ instrument panel.

BYD America CEO Stella Li confirmed the company has no plans to sell the Shark, or any passenger EV (BYD already sells electric buses in the US), in the US. Meanwhile, BYD does plan to take the Shark globally.

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BYD Shark PHEV pickup (Source: BYD)

A right-hand drive prototype was spotted testing in Australia earlier this year, suggesting it could launch there soon. Other global markets will likely include Thailand, South Africa, and parts of Europe. Stay tuned for more info on the BYD Shark as it hits new markets.

Source: CnEVPost, BYD

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