Sustainable Environmental Impact of VTOLs
The University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems and Ford Motor Company’s Research and Advanced Engineering team collaborated on a study focused on the environmental sustainability impact of flying cars, formerly known as electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOLs) aircraft.
Image courtesy of Dave Brenner/University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.
This first comprehensive sustainability report focuses on VTOLs energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and time saving opportunities. While VTOLs produce zero emissions in-flight, the batteries require power plant-generated electricity.
The study found that while VTOLs would not be sustainable for short routes, they could play a role in longer trips, such as cross-country commutes, and are especially relevant in congested cities or areas with geographical constraints. In some scenarios, it was found that VTOLs are competitive regarding greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.
VTOLs could potentially overcome current limitations like congested roads and greenhouse gas emissions, and studies considering these impacts are important for companies as they develop and eventually deploy technologies in the real world.
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Accessibility: More than a feature of mobility. It's the future of mobility.
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