Study Finds Flying Taxis Beat Gas Cars in Efficiency on Long Trips
University of Michigan researchers reveal that electric flying taxis consume less energy than gas cars on trips over 62 miles, though they still trail behind ground-based electric vehicles.
University of Michigan engineers reveal that electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft hold a surprising efficiency advantage over traditional gas-powered cars on long-distance trips. Using a comprehensive efficiency model based on real aerospace specifications, the team compares the energy consumption of ground transport against theoretical flying cars carrying passengers various distances.
The results show that short trips waste too much energy on the initial climb to be practical, but a clear turning point emerges around the 100-kilometer mark. On a 62-mile journey, a single passenger in a flying taxi uses 35 percent less energy than someone driving a gas-powered car, with the flying vehicle pulling ahead of gas cars as early as 40 kilometers.
Despite outperforming gas vehicles, flying taxis still consume about 28 percent more energy than traditional electric vehicles at the 100-kilometer threshold. However, researchers note that flying taxis achieve near-parity with EVs when carrying a full capacity of three passengers, since air travel maximizes occupancy while ground vehicles typically operate well below their seating limits.