One of the more notable exhibits at MWC involved a flying car — or a scaled down model of one anyway. A company called Alef has designed it, and it operates a bit like a drone, with several built-in propellers giving it lift. The “cockpit,” or whatever the driver/pilot sits in, is capable of staying steady as the VTOL vehicle rises and rotates into a position that allows it to fly forwards.
While being a good idea in theory, there’s a good chance Alef’s flying car will never get off the ground. The company’s CEO claims that the vehicle will go into production in 2025, but promises have been made about similar “Jetsons”-esque cars before.
There’s also a few legal considerations that may hold the flying vehicle back. As things stand, in the U.S. at least, you’ll need a driver’s license to drive around in it, and a pilot’s license to take to the skies. This is a pretty large barrier to entry, as not everyone has a pilot’s license, and acquiring one is both difficult and expensive — perhaps even for those with flying car fun money.
Alef believes these laws could change within a few years of the vehicle’s launch, and certain categories of light aircraft can be operated without a pilot’s license which may help, too. However, without a significant shift in laws, or a big redesign, this could just wind up being a de-facto EV in most people’s hands.
