autoevolution
 

Air Taxis Are Coming: Lilium Announces First U.S. Vertiport for Orlando, Florida

Man has long conquered flight but, as far as flying cars go, he is yet to get there. One incarnation of the “flying car” are air taxis or eVTOLs, considered by many the future of public transportation in large urban areas.
First U.S. vertiport will open in 2025 in Florida, will use Lilium Jet eVTOL 7 photos
Photo: Lilium
First U.S. vertiport will open in 2025 in Florida, will use Lilium Jet eVTOLFirst U.S. vertiport will open in 2025 in Florida, will use Lilium Jet eVTOLFirst U.S. vertiport will open in 2025 in Florida, will use Lilium Jet eVTOLFirst U.S. vertiport will open in 2025 in Florida, will use Lilium Jet eVTOLFirst U.S. vertiport will open in 2025 in Florida, will use Lilium Jet eVTOLFirst U.S. vertiport will open in 2025 in Florida, will use Lilium Jet eVTOL
In addition to the challenges of building a fully-electric vehicle that can operate safely in these areas and be able to carry human passengers, developers are facing another huge challenge: vertiports, airports for vertical takeoff and landing for these air taxis. Simply put, even if we’re getting closer to getting a working, production version of one such eVTOL, we’re still lacking the infrastructure to use it.

Lilium, a startup from Germany, has been working diligently on both these issues. In addition to developing its own eVTOL, called the Lilium Jet, it’s also proposing models for vertiports that are modular and easily adjustable to all types of terrain. The goal is to have both the vehicle and the infrastructure ready by 2025. And that includes the first hub for the United States.

Earlier this week, Lilium announced the first hub location for a high-speed electric air mobility network for the United States, in Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida. It will be launched in 2025, which coincides with the date offered earlier by Lilium for the launch of the Lilium Jet, and will be a joint effort by the German startup, Tavistock Development Company and the City of Orlando.

With this vertiport, Lilium will connect more than 20 million Floridians within a 186-mile (300-km) radius, and significantly boost tourism in the area by offering emissions-free, incredibly fast connecting flights to anywhere in Florida, without the hassle usually associated with commercial flying.

“We are thrilled to partner with Tavistock and build the first stretch of Florida’s high-speed electric transportation network with Central Florida at its core,” Remo Gerber, chief operating officer, Lilium, says in a statement. “It shows that regional high-speed air mobility can be built by private initiative and give communities such as Lake Nona, which can also serve Orlando and arrivals from its international airport, the ability to determine themselves whether they want a link into a high-speed transportation network.”

At the core of the new vertiport will be, of course, the Lilium Jet. It’s a five-seat eVTOL powered by 36 electric engines, with an estimated range of 186 miles (300 km) on one single charge, and top speeds of 185 mph (298 kph). Lilium believes it can create a 2,000-mile (3,218-km) network with just 15 to 20 such vertiports, and already has development contracts in Europe, through partnerships with Dusseldorf and Cologne/Bonn airports.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
press release
About the author: Elena Gorgan
Elena Gorgan profile photo

Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories