Airbus has just showcased its idea of the future of urban transportation. The company has revealed the CityBus NextGen, which is an autonomous flying electric vehicle that could be available in the future.
For those unaware, the company had revealed the CityBus concept for the first time back in 2019. However, back then, the design was akin to an eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing) vehicle and had eight rotors and was autonomously piloted. And now, the company has iterated on the design and form factor of this multi passenger vehicle, making it more sleek with a new futuristic aesthetic that resembles vehicles from a sci fi movie.
According to ExecutiveTraveller, this is Airbus’ attempt into entering the emerging Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market. The CityBus NextGen is a fully electric airborne vehicle, which can function as a flying Uber/taxi or as a personal shuttle. In the new design, the flying vehicle now features a V shaped tail, which repackages its eight electrically powered propellers. The company claims that it will be exceptionally quiet during fly over and landing. Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even stated that “We are on a quest to co-create an entirely new market that sustainably integrates urban air mobility into the cities while addressing environmental and social concerns.”
He further added that “Airbus is convinced that the real challenges are as much about urban integration, public acceptance, and automated air traffic management, as about vehicle technology and business models. We build on all of the capabilities to deliver a safe, sustainable, and fully integrated service to society.” Similar to its predecessor, the CityBus NextGen can carry up to four passengers in a zero emission flight with a targeted range of 80 kilometers at a 120km/h cruise speed.
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