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- Alef Aeronautics Model A vs Volocopter VoloCity
Alef Aeronautics Model A vs Volocopter VoloCity
Overview Electric Flying Vehicle
|
Model
|
Alef Aeronautics Model A
VoloCity |
|
Manufacturer
|
Alef Aeronautics
Volocopter GmbH (Germany) |
|
Announced
|
2022
2019 |
|
launched
|
2019
Expected entry into service by 2025 (under certification) |
|
Base Price
|
300000
$300,000–$350,000 |
Electric Flying Vehicle Dimensions & Build
|
Aircraft Type
|
Road-drivable electric VTOL (flying car)
Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) air taxi |
|
Length
|
5.18 m (17 ft)
~9.3 m (30.5 ft) |
|
Wingspan / Rotor Diameter
|
6.1 m (20 ft) in flight configuration
18 rotors on a circular frame, ~9.3 m overall diameter |
|
Height
|
1.98 m (6.5 ft)
~2.5 m (8.2 ft) |
|
Empty Weight
|
~700 kg (1,543 lbs) |
|
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)
|
900 kg (1,984 lbs) |
|
Passenger Capacity
|
1–2 (pilot + passenger)
2 (including pilot, later autonomous) |
|
Cargo Capacity
|
Small luggage compartment (~20–25 kg / 55 lbs) |
|
Landing Gear Type
|
4 road wheels (car-type landing gear)
Fixed skid-type landing gear |
Power & Propulsion
|
Battery Type
|
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion battery system |
|
Battery Capacity
|
40 kWh
~35 kWh (modular packs) |
|
Battery Brand
|
Custom aviation-grade packs (partnerships with multiple suppliers, undisclosed) |
|
Charging Input Voltage
|
High-voltage DC charging infrastructure |
|
Charging Power
|
Up to 100 kW (target) |
|
Charging Time
|
6 hours (standard)
Fast swap in minutes / ~60 minutes standard charge |
|
Solar / Hybrid Assist
|
Hybrid-electric extension concepts under study
battery-electric only |
|
Motor
|
8 electric motors (one per propeller)
18 electric motors (each with its own rotor) |
|
Total Power Output
|
100 kW
~100 kW peak combined |
|
Propulsion System
|
Distributed electric propulsion (8 rotors)
Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) with fixed-pitch propellers |
|
transmission
|
Direct-drive electric (no gearbox stated)
Direct drive (no mechanical transmission – each motor directly drives a rotor) |
Electric Flying Vehicle Performance
|
Cruising speed
|
Road: ~40 km/h (25 mph) Air: ~89 km/h (55 mph)
~90 km/h (56 mph) |
|
Top Speed
|
77 km/h (110 mph)
110 km/h (68 mph) |
|
Maximum Range
|
Road: ~322 km (200 miles) Air: ~177 km (110 miles)
~35 km (22 miles) |
|
Endurance (Flight Time)
|
20 minutes of flight
~20 minutes (with reserves) |
|
Climb Rate
|
600 ft/min (183 m/min)
~6 m/s (1,180 ft/min) |
|
Service Ceiling (Max Altitude)
|
2,000 ft (610 m)
~2,000 m (6,560 ft) |
|
Takeoff / Landing Type
|
VTOL (Vertical Takeoff & Landing)
Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) |
|
Noise Level (dB)
|
~65 dB at 75 m (designed for urban low-noise operation) |
|
Flight Modes
|
Road mode, VTOL, forward-flight mode with rotating body
Piloted, semi-autonomous, autonomous (future certification stages) |
Safety & Systems
|
Avionics
|
Basic flight-control UI with autonomous-assist
Redundant fly-by-wire control, navigation, and flight management systems |
|
Flight Control
|
Fly-by-wire + redundant electric propulsion
Triple-redundant autonomous flight control with pilot interface |
|
Safety Features
|
Multiple motor redundancy
Collision avoidance systems
360° visibility cockpit
18 independent motors (fault tolerance)
Redundant power distribution
Real-time diagnostics
Low noise, low vibration design |
|
Emergency Landing System
|
Whole-aircraft ballistic parachute
Parachute recovery system (airframe parachute) |
|
Certifications
|
FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate (for R&D/testing)
Pursuing EASA SC-VTOL and FAA type certification |
Interior & Comfort
|
Seating Layout
|
1 pilot + 1 passenger
2 seats (side-by-side pilot + passenger) |
|
Cabin Type
|
Gimballed rotating cockpit (keeps occupants upright)
Enclosed cabin with wide windows for panoramic views |
|
Infotainment & Displays
|
Minimalist flight UI + driver display
Minimalistic digital flight display, passenger information screen planned |
|
Storage Compartments
|
Small rear luggage space for carry-on bags |
|
Other Features
|
High-visibility mesh structure, rotating cabin
Climate control
Lightweight, ergonomic seating
Large windows for sightseeing |
Capacities
|
Passenger Capacity
|
2
2 (1 pilot + 1 passenger) |
|
Payload Capacity
|
91 kg (200 lb)
~200 kg (441 lbs, including passengers + luggage) |
|
Cargo Capacity
|
~20–25 kg luggage allowance |
Disclaimer Note
We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct
