Hyundai introduces the S-A1 Urban Air Mobility concept

MANILA: Flying cars are still a thing of the future. While the electric vehicle segment is finally gaining momentum and we are witnessing more and more EVs with mouth-watering looks, ample power, and long single-charge ranges, there is still time before we step into the era of personal flying cars or personal air vehicles. In order to convert the future into the present and dreams into a reality, Hyundai has joined hands with Uber for developing Uber Air Taxis.

The South Korean automaker is now the first from the automobile industry to have joined the Uber Elevate initiative that already has partners in the form of Aurora Flight Services, Bell, and Embraer. The first notion to be revealed concerning the Hyundai-Uber partnership is the Hyundai S-A1 Urban Air Mobility concept. Hyundai introduced the concept at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show 2020, and the concept is an electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can fly at heights of 300 metres to 600 metres above the ground. The S-A1 Urban Air Mobility concept can cruise at 290 kmph and is capable of doing 100 kilometres in one charge. Besides that, the aircraft would need just five to seven minutes to recharge itself while operating.

"Our vision of Urban Air Mobility will transform the concept of urban transportation. We expect UAM to vitalize urban communities and provide more quality time to people, and we are confident that Uber Elevate is the right partner to make this innovative product readily available to as many customers as possible", said aeronautics engineer Jaiwon Shin, executive vice president and head of urban air mobility at Hyundai.

Unlike traditional helicopters, the Hyundai S-A1 Urban Air Mobility concept uses small electrically driven rotors which produce less noise. Moreover, the multiple rotor setup also enhances the safety aspect in case of an unwanted breakdown. Four persons with a backpack each can share the ride on an S-A1 Urban Air Mobility concept. Furthermore, the Hyundai S-A1 Urban Air Mobility concept is designed to perform vertical takeoffs and landings. While the aircraft will be initially operated by a pilot, future updates will enable the aircraft to achieve autonomous flights.

"Hyundai is our first vehicle partner with experience of manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale. We believe Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at rates unseen in the current aerospace industry, producing high quality, reliable aircraft at high volumes to drive down passenger costs per trip" said Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate.

The Hawker Siddley Harrier and the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey are two aircraft very similar to the Hyundai S-A1 Urban Air Mobility concept. While the Hawker Siddley Harrier uses tilting jet nozzles, the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey sports tilting rotors. Both the traditional aircraft are capable of performing vertical landings and takeoffs. With the S-A1 Urband Air Mobility concept, Hyundai aims at delivering a new form of hassle-free and immaculate transportation.

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