"We’ll have flying cars by the 2020s," we used to say 40 or 50 years ago. And we're getting there. Xpeng has just unveiled an off-road vehicle that launches an eVTOL at the 2023 Tech Day event. But they still need to work on the way they promote the package, because wearing summer clothes on a picnic in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains covered in snow, is not such a great idea.
XPeng's Land Aircraft Carrier is made up of a hybrid electric off-road vehicle and a two-seat electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) air module. Peng's AeroHT division developed the whole package and is now promoting it as the first mass-produced model designed for flying, commuting, and off-road adventures.
The vehicle that drives on land is an off-roader that looks a bit similar to the Tesla Cybertruck. It's got that triangular shape that seems inspired by the electric pickup truck and sports an angular design when looked at from the side. The model comes not with two, but three axles and six wheels, a solution specifically designed to maximize its off-road capabilities. It is a six-wheel-drive vehicle that hosts the eVTOL aircraft in the rear. The Chinese carmaker claims that the design, inspired by lunar exploration vehicles, is still in development.
The off-road hybrid truck can also operate autonomously. It hosts a pod that can be deployed from the boot. Developed by the Chinese carmaker's aircraft division, its airborne attachment folds out the six rotors for the vertical take-off procedure. Upon landing, they are folded back to fit the space that hosts the eVTOL.
XPeng explains that the sixth-generation eVTOL has potential for use by emergency services, with focus on a mountain rescue. It is powered by six foldable rotors, but, what makes it truly reliable is the fact that it can remain in the air even if it loses two of the six.
Photo: XPeng | AeroHT
For more safety, it is equipped with a multi-parachute rescue system with a maximum carrying capacity of 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds). It will break 50 meters (164 feet) above the ground instead of the industry-standard 200 meters (656 feet), thus allowing a more stable touchdown.
According to the carmaker, several parts of the cabin, such as the steering wheel and dashboard, can be adapted for both landborne or airborne use. The eVTOL comes with 270-degree spacial views and offers distributed all-electric propulsion in compliance with all single-point safety requirements.
An extended-range hybrid system can even recharge the aircraft while on the move. The capability gives the users the chance to cruise to higher elevation, park, and unload the air module wherever they need, without wasting time charging it at home or at a charging station along the way.
XPeng does not provide any further information about the vehicle for land use, but the video uploaded on YouTube shows it comes with an adaptive suspension that lifts or lowers it according to the needs of the user.
Photo: XPeng | AeroHT
The model can also be used as a camper van, being able to carry folable chairs, special sun shades, and a picnic table as well as a tent. But the video shows people wearing summer clothes and staying in the shade in the middle of nowhere, with everything around covered in snow. It looks like XPeng still has to work on the design of the truck as well as on promoting it.
Google News