Sunday, December 22, 2024
Infrastructure and TechnologyLatestNews

First urban ‘air port’ for electric mobility signed off

Hyundai Motor Group, Coventry City Council and the UK Government have partnered with Urban Air Port to launch the world’s first site to demonstrate the potential of urban air mobility.

The air port, which won a £1.2m grant from the UK government’s Future Flight Challenge, is a fully-operational hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft – such as cargo drones and air taxis. The programme is also funded by £125 million from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and is expected to be matched by up to £175 million from industry.

Launched in Coventry later this year, the port will have fully autonomous zero emission infrastructure for future air mobility. It will bring industry, government and the public together to demonstrate how to unlock the potential of sustainable urban air mobility to reduce congestion, cut air pollution and holistically decarbonise transport while providing seamless passenger journeys and deliveries.

The physical footprint of an Urban Air Port is 60% smaller than a traditional heliport. The sites can be installed in a matter of days, emit net zero carbon emissions and can be operated completely off-grid.

The Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group chose Urban Air Port as its priority infrastructure partner to support the global growth of this new sector. The South Korean company plans to create its own eVTOL aircraft and support the broader urban air mobility eco-system. Hyundai Motor Group is supporting the development of Air-One as part of its plan to commercialise its aircraft by 2028.

Ricky Sandhu, founder and executive chairman of Urban Air Port, said: “Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. eVTOLs will need Urban Air Ports. Over a hundred years ago, the world’s first commercial flight took off, creating the modern connected world. Urban Air Port® will improve connectivity across our cities, boost productivity and help the UK to take the lead in a whole new clean global economy.

“Flying cars used to be a futuristic flight of fancy. Air-One will bring clean urban air transport to the masses and unleash a new airborne world of zero emission mobility.”

Pamela Cohn, chief operating officer for the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group, said: “As we advance our eVTOL aircraft programme, development of supporting infrastructure is imperative. Air-One is a unique project that is set to help lead the way in developing a robust, accessible and intermodal infrastructure network for future mobility. We are excited to be part of this partnership in the UK, and look forward to working together to create community impact and opportunity through safe, affordable, and human-centred mobility solutions.”

Gary Cutts, UK Research and Innovation Future Flight Challenge Director, said: “Urban Air Port® has the potential to revolutionise cities across the world, making them more connected, cleaner and accelerating our green economic recovery. This project epitomises the purpose of the Future Flight Challenge fund – it is innovation at its finest – and will help to position the UK at the vanguard of electric urban air mobility.”

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “We are already a city that is helping to shape the future of electric transport and this is yet another ground breaking project that puts Coventry at the forefront of new technologies. It highlights how the council is working alongside a range of organisations to help shape a better, greener future.”

  • Image: Visual representation of the Air-One® site with a Hyundai Motor Group eVTOL in the centre of Coventry. Image Copyright © Urban Air Port Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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