Electric flying car can reach speeds of 300 km/h

The electric-powered jet-powered flying car from German company Lilium Aviation promises to significantly reduce travel times in the city.

Lilium flying car model successfully test flew. Video: YouTube.

The prototype, developed by German company Lilium Aviation with some funding from the European Space Agency (ESA), is the closest thing to a popular illustration of a flying car, according to Live Science. Lilium's design is based on vertical takeoff and landing technology currently used in military aircraft such as the Harrier Jump Jet. For civilian use, Lilium is a two-seat, electric jet.

In April 2017, Lilium’s full-size prototype, called Eagle, took off for the first time from an airport outside Munich, Germany. The test flight was unmanned, but still an impressive feat. Earlier this week, Lilium Aviation announced it had raised a total of $90 million in funding.

Lilium's all-electric flying car. Photo: Lilium Aviation.

“This is the next phase in our rapid evolution from an idea to a commercially successful aircraft that will revolutionize the way we move around cities around the world,” said Daniel Wiegand, co-founder and chairman of Lilium Aviation.

The Lilium flying car has several key differences from similar vehicles being developed by competitors. The Lilium Jet is powered entirely by electric motors, while its rivals are mostly aiming for large aircraft that use a combination of gas and electricity.

The Lilium Jet’s propulsion comes from three electric jet engines. Each engine powers a set of separate propellers with more than a dozen blades that can switch from vertical to horizontal. When the vehicle takes off and lands, the propellers point straight down.

As it moves through the air, the propellers slowly shift to a horizontal position, similar to a conventional jet. While moving horizontally, Lilium uses only 1/10th of the energy it does during takeoff. The all-electric design means the vehicle has zero emissions and low noise levels.

Lilium Aviation has not released specifications for the prototype's top speed or range, nor has it disclosed a price. The company's next goal is to build a five-seat version of the Lilium.

"The five-seat Lilium Jet will be able to travel at 300 km/h after a full hour of charging, meaning a flight from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy Airport will take just five minutes. The economy and efficiency of the aircraft will reduce costs compared to making the same journey in a road taxi," Wiegand said.

According to VNE