Low-altitude economy has become a hot word, but in the sub-sector, "low-altitude travel" is more concerned by citizens. Imagine if I had a flying car written by Jules Verne, what a happy child I would be!
Fortunately, "low-altitude travel" is no longer a science fiction movie. Last year, a "flying car" by Ehang Intelligent became the world's first manned unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft to obtain a type certificate. In February this year, the world's first cross-sea and cross-city eVTOL electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft successfully tested between Shenzhen and Zhuhai, greatly shortening the original 2-hour drive to 20 minutes. In August this year, the low-altitude passenger helicopter route connecting Shanghai Pudong and Kunshan, Jiangsu was officially opened and operated, and the commuting time between the two places was shortened to less than 1 hour. In 2023, the scale of China's eVTOL industry has reached 980 million yuan. According to the US "Time" magazine, China is currently leading the eVTOL industry competition, and its product share has accounted for 50% of the global total.
Competing for a new track, Nanjing is unwilling to lag behind. This historic city is embracing this futuristic industry with an open and inclusive attitude. At the beginning of this year, the ET9 prototype of the electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft independently developed by Evite (Nanjing) Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. successfully made its maiden flight. This "flying car" can carry 5 people or 500 kilograms and fly 240 kilometers at a maximum speed of 240 kilometers per hour. On August 1, a 2-ton eVTOL electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft took off from the UAV base in Pukou High-tech Zone, crossed the Yangtze River, circled along the river and returned to the base, flying 25 kilometers in 10 minutes. On the same day, the Nanjing Low-altitude Fusion Flight Base was officially started.
Then, Nanjing citizens can't help but ask, when will our city's air taxi take off? Flying is about safety and cannot tolerate any carelessness. It might as well be more patient. In the short term, there are still many problems to be solved to achieve low-altitude travel. Route planning, take-off and landing point construction, and navigation and communication guarantee are all directions that need to be focused on; in addition, safety concerns, improvement of regulations, and cost considerations are also unavoidable issues. Some experts predict that by 2026, commercialized eVTOL is expected to be gradually promoted after pilot operation in a small-scale typical scenario. The prediction may not be accurate, but with the continuous breakthrough of technology and the gradual improvement of security, we have reason to believe that riding an "air taxi" to ride the wind will become an everyday experience within the reach of Nanjing citizens in the foreseeable future.
By then, overlooking the Qinhuai River where "smoke shrouds the cold water and the moon shrouds the sand", and looking out at the Zijin Mountain where "Zhongshan is like a dragon rising alone to the west", our travel will become more convenient and comfortable than ever before.
