The unusual electric "Luft Pinoy" vehicle will be able to travel on both land and air. It will also be powered by hydrogen or electricity.
Luft Pinoy Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL)
The Luft Pinoy evTOL project, which is still a concept at present, is being designed for traversing the 7,101 islands of the Philippine archipelago. The project is being done as a collaboration between LufCar, a Florida-based startup, and eFrancisco Motor Corporation (eFMC), a Philippine-based company. The prototype of the electric vehicle is expected to be finished by the end of the year.
Santh Sathya, LuftCar CEO, explains that their road and flying vehicle concept is specifically tailored for connecting archipelagos and catering to air ambulances, cargo, regional transportation, and tourism. Sathya adds that their hydrogen propulsion will be able to cater to heavy payloads and long-distance needs across the region.
A full prototype of the Luft Pinoy EV is yet to be made. However, its concept design has been observed to be greatly straightforward, compared to others like the Supernal SA-2. The Luft Pinoy's main component will be a customizable minivan that works on an electric battery or hydrogen fuel cell system for transit on the road.
When the vehicle needs to reach the sky, it has a subframe that is used to link it with a eVTOL airframe with a hydrogen power system of its own and four propellers. As a result, the van may effectively transform into an aircraft that can land and takeoff vertically without requiring a runway.
The design of the Luft Pinoy implies that it could be capable of landing on a local airstrip, decoupling its air structure, and continuing its journey on the road. This would reduce the need to have other vehicles for ferrying cargo from helipads or airports to their main destination.
While the prototype of the Luft Pinoy is hoped to see the world this year, it could be held back due to the insufficiency of general legislation and law-making regarding flying car use.
When it comes to legislative issues, manufacturers in the US need to first overcome regulatory hurdles before these vehicles can take flight. At present, flying cars should adhere to all road rules like any other car. At the same time, it must also follow the same restrictions as small aircraft, wherein they cannot land or takeoff on the road unless it is an emergency case.
Nevertheless, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) aims to see eVTOL use across the US in 2028. This comes with its AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) Implementation Plan that details the steps and processes for the certification and regulation of operating flying cars.
eVTOLs on the Works
There have been a wide array of eVTOL concepts. However, only a few of them had seen reality because of the insufficiency of flying cars' legal framework and range limitations. The development of electric aircraft also remains stuck due to their limited range of 400 kilometers.
However, aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells have already seen takeoffs. The use of hydrogen fuel for eVTOLS can offer better weight-lifting potential and a longer range compared to battery technology. The Copenhagen Center on Energy Efficiency notes that there is a potential for such technology to be implemented on trains, ambulances, and long-haul lorries that can benefit from having longer ranges for driving.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cells are more dense in energy. Hence, they can be used for more powerful and lighter powertrain. Moreover, as hydrogen fuel cells create power from hydrogen fuel rather than storing power, they can be replenished in just a matter of minutes.
However, the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells falls short compared to lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, the generation of hydrogen mainly comes from fossil fuel burning.
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