Seeing How Flying Taxis Work, Future Transportation Vehicles

Air taxi EHang 216 (Photo from Antara)

YOGYAKARTA - Flying taxis are referred to as transportation vehicles in the future. Flying taxis are reportedly ready to operate for the public in two years by 2024. This air vehicle flight experiment has been carried out in France.

The tested flying taxi drone vehicle is '2X' developed by German aircraft manufacturer Volocopter. This electric-powered vehicle can cover a distance of up to 20 km and a speed of about 56 mph.

Aviation experiments were also carried out on XPeng X2 flying taxis made by Chinese company XPeng Aeroh. The flight test was carried out several times before it was ready to operate. This vehicle can fly as far as 140 km in 45 minutes.

In Indonesia, the flight taxi flight demonstration has also been carried out by Prestige Image Motocars in the Klungkung Regency, Bali. The company, which is led by young entrepreneur Rudy Salim, conducted a test flight of EHang 216 flying taxis produced by Chinese company Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd.

This drone-shaped flying taxi vehicle is controlled unmanned. Flying taxis have a control center with advanced systems and can be controlled remotely.

Flying taxi passengers only need to determine the flight departure point and point of use. The flight does not require a pilot because it will be controlled remotely. This vehicle control center is on the mainland via the 4G or 5G network.

The EHang 216 flying taxi has a carrying capacity of two passengers with a maximum load of 220 kilograms. This vehicle takes off and lands vertically. This vehicle has dimensions with a height of 1.7 meters and a width of 5.6 meters.

In terms of body, EHang 216 has a handicraft and 16 propellers. His arm can be folded so that the dimensions are small enough to only need a place area of 5 meters to park. This vehicle is capable of traveling at an altitude of 3,000 meters at a speed of 130 km/hour.

EHang 216 is made using carbon fiber on its body parts. This material is classified as light, sturdy, and long-lasting. Meanwhile, the operation of EHang 216 uses electricity as the driving energy.

The first flying taxi in Indonesia was introduced by Prestige to the Indonesia International Motor Show in 2021. Rudy Salim said the aid would lease and sell EHang 216 as a means of tourist transportation.

However, Rudi has not disclosed the price of the EHang 216 vehicle. However, Prestige said it would be open if anyone wanted to order it. It will carry out surveillance to see the storage space or operation of this vehicle later.

Rudy only conveyed the estimated flight taxi rental price for EHang 216. He said the rental rate was much cheaper than the helicopter fare. The benchmark is about 3 percent to 4 percent of the helicopter rental rate. Maybe around IDR 1 million per person in 30 minutes.

The Indonesian government has also not granted a commercial flight permit using flying taxis. There are several provisions that must be met before these aerial vehicles can be used commercially.

The Ministry of Transportation said there were a number of considerations in commercial flying taxi licensing. A number of things that need to be considered, including security, pilot licenses, airspace, organizations that operate them.

That's how flying taxis work and commercial operating plans in Indonesia. However, for now, the government has not issued a license to use commercial flying taxis because there are several considerations and provisions that must be met.

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