On October 15 2015, the world of popular culture marked Back to the Future Day, the date that Marty McFly and “Doc” Brown chose to travel forward in time from 1985 in the classic science-fiction movie sequel Back To The Future II. However, the most common phrase uttered at the time was not a line from the movie. Rather, it was: “Where is my hoverboard?”
The movie had promised the faithful that by 2015 every kid would be moving around on a flying skateboard. Instead, they got dodgy, wheel-based, battery-powered balance boards that caught fire at inconvenient moments.
Now it’s 2022, and many are asking: “Where is my flying taxi?”
Just two years after Back to the Future Day, in 2017, the United Arab Emirates declared that it would introduce the world’s first autonomous flying taxis in Dubai by 2022.
A giant two-seater fully electric drone, made by German start-up Volocopter, was demonstrated on a five-minute vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) flight. It promised 30-minute VTOL flights within five years.
Airbus and Uber were also in the running to be the first in the air on commercial in-city flights.
Sadly, nobody is flitting about Dubai in flying cars yet. Last year, Volocopter said its debut flights were two years away. Now, it has set its sights on the Paris Olympics in 2024 as the take-off date.
That hasn’t stopped the company from raising investment from the likes of Intel and the holding companies of Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, valuing the business at $1.87bn (R32.7bn). However, it remains in start-up mode as it demonstrates its service around the world.
In 2019, it staged a demo of its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft around the Marina Bay Hotel in Singapore. A Skyport, described as “the world’s first air taxi airport”, was built in the area but was dismantled for demonstrations elsewhere.
In the process, it drummed up tremendous enthusiasm — and of course spurred on competitors.
In June, Brazilian multinational aerospace manufacturer Embraer entered the Dubai fray via its two-year-old electric aircraft subsidiary Eve Air Mobility. Eve announced that it had collaborated with UAE charter flight operator Falcon Aviation Services to make 35 flying taxis for the city. It set a delivery date of 2026.
This week, Eve got into bed with the first major airline to commit to the air taxi market. United Airlines announced a $15m investment in Eve and a conditional purchase agreement for 200 four-seater electric aircraft, with an option for another 200. The first deliveries are expected in 2026.
We all know what happened — or rather, didn’t happen — on Back to the Future Day, but it helps that United was the first major US airline to create a corporate venture fund, United Airlines Ventures
Last year, it invested in American start-up Archer, and placed a $1bn order for 200 Archer eVTOL aircraft, with an option to purchase 100 more for $500m.
Little wonder that Eve was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in May this year.
“United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation,” Michael Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures, said this week.
“Today, United is making history again, by becoming the first major airline to publicly invest in two eVTOL companies.
“Our agreement with Eve highlights our confidence in the urban air mobility market and serves as another important benchmark towards our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 ... Together, we believe our suite of clean energy technologies will revolutionise air travel as we know it.”
We all know what happened — or rather, didn’t happen — on Back to the Future Day, but it helps that United was the first major US airline to create a corporate venture fund, United Airlines Ventures. It has invested in eVTOL, hydrogen fuel cell engines and sustainable aviation fuel.
It is unlikely it will fob off the next generation with balance boards.
• Goldstuck is founder of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za
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