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Role of flying cars in sustainable mobility

Author

Listed:
  • Akshat Kasliwal

    (Ford Motor Company
    University of Michigan)

  • Noah J. Furbush

    (Ford Motor Company
    University of Michigan)

  • James H. Gawron

    (University of Michigan)

  • James R. McBride

    (Ford Motor Company)

  • Timothy J. Wallington

    (Ford Motor Company)

  • Robert D. De Kleine

    (Ford Motor Company)

  • Hyung Chul Kim

    (Ford Motor Company)

  • Gregory A. Keoleian

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

Interest and investment in electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOLs), commonly known as flying cars, have grown significantly. However, their sustainability implications are unclear. We report a physics-based analysis of primary energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of VTOLs vs. ground-based cars. Tilt-rotor/duct/wing VTOLs are efficient when cruising but consume substantial energy for takeoff and climb; hence, their burdens depend critically on trip distance. For our base case, traveling 100 km (point-to-point) with one pilot in a VTOL results in well-to-wing/wheel GHG emissions that are 35% lower but 28% higher than a one-occupant internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV), respectively. Comparing fully loaded VTOLs (three passengers) with ground-based cars with an average occupancy of 1.54, VTOL GHG emissions per passenger-kilometer are 52% lower than ICEVs and 6% lower than BEVs. VTOLs offer fast, predictable transportation and could have a niche role in sustainable mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Akshat Kasliwal & Noah J. Furbush & James H. Gawron & James R. McBride & Timothy J. Wallington & Robert D. De Kleine & Hyung Chul Kim & Gregory A. Keoleian, 2019. "Role of flying cars in sustainable mobility," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09426-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09426-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Mulrow, John & Derrible, Sybil & Samaras, Constantine, 2019. "Sociotechnical convex hulls and the evolution of transportation activity: A method and application to US travel survey data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    2. Bulusu, Vishwanath & Sengupta, Raja, 2020. "Urban Air Mobility: Viability of Hub-Door and Door-Door Movement by Air," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt6wq6x800, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    3. Raoul Rothfeld & Mengying Fu & Miloš Balać & Constantinos Antoniou, 2021. "Potential Urban Air Mobility Travel Time Savings: An Exploratory Analysis of Munich, Paris, and San Francisco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Pons-Prats, Jordi & Živojinović, Tanja & Kuljanin, Jovana, 2022. "On the understanding of the current status of urban air mobility development and its future prospects: Commuting in a flying vehicle as a new paradigm," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    5. Cohen, Adam & Shaheen, Susan, 2021. "Urban Air Mobility: Opportunities and Obstacles," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt0r23p1gm, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    6. Wang, Weida & Chen, Yincong & Yang, Chao & Li, Ying & Xu, Bin & Xiang, Changle, 2022. "An enhanced hypotrochoid spiral optimization algorithm based intertwined optimal sizing and control strategy of a hybrid electric air-ground vehicle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    7. Lee, Changju & Bae, Bumjoon & Lee, Yu Lim & Pak, Tae-Young, 2023. "Societal acceptance of urban air mobility based on the technology adoption framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    8. Annitsa Koumoutsidi & Ioanna Pagoni & Amalia Polydoropoulou, 2022. "A New Mobility Era: Stakeholders’ Insights regarding Urban Air Mobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Jiadi Zhang & Ilya Kolmanovsky & Mohammad Reza Amini, 2021. "Stochastic Drift Counteraction Optimal Control of a Fuel Cell-Powered Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, February.
    10. Ali, Busyairah Syd & Saji, Sam & Su, Moon Ting, 2022. "An assessment of frameworks for heterogeneous aircraft operations in low-altitude airspace," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    11. Zeng, Ziling & Wang, Tingsong & Qu, Xiaobo, 2024. "En-route charge scheduling for an electric bus network: Stochasticity and real-world practice," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    12. Laura C. Aguilar Esteva & Akshat Kasliwal & Michael S. Kinzler & Hyung Chul Kim & Gregory A. Keoleian, 2021. "Circular economy framework for automobiles: Closing energy and material loops," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(4), pages 877-889, August.
    13. Yang, Chao & Lu, Zhexi & Wang, Weida & Wang, Muyao & Zhao, Jing, 2023. "An efficient intelligent energy management strategy based on deep reinforcement learning for hybrid electric flying car," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    14. Maria Cieśla & Aleksander Sobota & Marianna Jacyna, 2020. "Multi-Criteria Decision Making Process in Metropolitan Transport Means Selection Based on the Sharing Mobility Idea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, September.
    15. Adam, Cohen & Susan, Shaheen, 2021. "Urban Air Mobility: Opportunities and Obstacles," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt3mg6z1wf, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.

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