EVTOL TEST FLIGHTS
ELECTRIC BEACH BUGGY
LUBLIN ’ S FIRST HYDROGEN BUS
Volocopter , Aeroporti di Roma ( ADR ), Atlantia , and UrbanV have has successfully completed the first crewed eVTOL test flights in Italian airspace . Along with this , the team also deployed the first Italian vertiport at Fiumicino ’ s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport
Volocopter ’ s test pilot aboard the electric Volocopter 2X flew 40 km / h for 5 minutes at 40 meters height along a “ figure 8 ” flight path in front of onlookers . Volocopter ’ s electric air taxi is designed for quick and emission-free passenger flights in urban environments over congested roads and waterways .
Following the test flight , UrbanV conducted a vertiport demonstration .
“ The infrastructure , occupying an area of about 5,500 square meters , has been sized to ensure compatibility with the main eVTOLs that will be certified in the coming years and consists of : a final approach and takeoff area ( FATO ) for landing and takeoff operations ; a parking area ; a covered hangar measuring 20 x 20 x 6 meters ; various rooms , including an office , a warehouse , and an area for battery charging ,” according to a media release .
Dutch firm Savage Rivale has launched an ‘ exo-electric beach EV ’ called the Coastrunner EV .
The car maker describes it as “ a very simplistic design combined with a high-quality finish ”. Weighing just 820 kilogram , it features four seats , no doors , and a rollable fabric roof . It uses an aluminum spaceframe and a steel roll cage .
It has a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle that provides 66bhp and 155lb ft of torque . Top speed is 75mph , while range should be around 112 miles thanks to a 20kWh battery pack mounted underneath the seats .
The first 20 Coastrunners will sell for about £ 56,000 with the first six units expected to be delivered towards the end of 2023 . A second larger batch is expected to be released in 2025 and will be sold for £ 31,500 each .
Lublin is set to become the second Polish city to deploy hydrogen buses . This comes after the municipal transport authority Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego ( ZTM ) and Solaris Bus & Coach signed a contract for the purchase and delivery of an Urbino 12 hydrogen bus .
“ Lublin is thus joining a select group of European towns and cities that are setting new benchmarks for planning and managing bus fleets . Our longstanding collaboration makes us proud . We will be very happy to be a partner of ZTM Lublin ’ s in deploying hydrogen technology “, said Javier Calleja , CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach .
The hydrogen bus will be able to carry up to 85 passengers , 29 of whom can be seated . It features a passenger counting system , a video surveillance system , air conditioning , a ticket vending machine with a cashless payment capability , an air disinfection system for the vehicle interior and USB charging ports for passengers .
26 ISSUE 37 OCTOBER 2022 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU