Technology
Alef Model A Flying Car Pre-Orders Surge to a Whopping 2,850
Table of Contents
Alef Model A
Alef: the first letter in the Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian languages, is now the word behind the first flying car ever created.
The all-electric Alef Model A is set to hit airways in 2025. The new flying car— whose look was developed by Bugatti designer Hirash Razaghi— has recently received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin testing its flight capabilities, and pre-orders are currently surging.
CEO of Alef Aeronautics, Jim Dukhovny, was inspired to create a flying car after watching Back to the Future. Coincidentally, Alef Aeronautics started developing the car in 2015, the same year that the movie predicted we would have real flying cars.
Alef Model A Price
The Alef Model A is priced at $300,000 USD per vehicle, with pre-orders being taken right now. Buyers have the option between a general pre-order for $150 USD, or $1500 for priority queue.
According to Jim Dukhovny, 2,850 pre-orders have been placed so far. This represents more than $855,000,000 of revenue that Alef Aeronautics would make upon release. These numbers are expected to rise as the Alef Model A continues to wow audiences.
The new flying car made an appearance at the Detroit Auto Show, which resulted in a surge of pre-orders that has since increased.
How Does the Alef Flying Car Work?
The new flying car works like a conventional car that allows you to drive on streets, but it is also equipped with eight propellers, giving those who have it the ability to fly up vertically in traffic jams and then take off, leaving traffic behind—or underneath—them.
Flying Cars Can Solve the World’s Traffic Problems
In an era where some cities spend up to 156 hours a year in traffic jams, flying cars help relieve a congestion problem that researchers say needs to be addressed. In fact, drivers in major Canadian cities spent an average of 144 hours stuck in traffic in 2022 alone. This means that If traffic doesn’t get any better, a Canadian who remains a driver for the next 30 years could spend more than 150 days of their driving life stuck in traffic jams.
What is the Speed of the Alef Model A?
The flying car is a low-speed driving vehicle and allows for a speed up to 25 miles (40kpm) on the road. It has a driving range of 200 miles (322km) and a flying range of 110 miles (177km).
It is fully powered with electric energy, so besides emerging as a transformative way of reducing time wasted on congested roads, it is also emerging as an invention for sustainable transportation—much like Michelins UPTIS airless car tires.
Has the Alef Model A Actually Flown?
While prototypes were flown by ALEF between 2016 and 2019, the flying car is yet to show a live demonstration of the vehicle actually flying. In fact, the top flying speed for the ALEF Model A has not yet been revealed. This suggests smaller-scale experiments are being made before a full public flight takes place.
Alef Model A Release Date
The FAA has granted special air-worthy certification for the Alef Model A to begin testing its flight capabilities. Alef Aeronautics plans to ship out the flying cars in 2026. However, the new flying car still needs to obtain approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration before flying in public and being used on roads.
The Alef Model Z Release Date and Price
Alef Aeronautics is also developing a four to six-passenger version of the flying car called the Alef Model Z. They are aiming to release it in 2035 with a much lower price tag of $35,000. This low price is meant to increase the number of people flying cars in the future. Other flying cars, like the Doroni H1, have also placed competitive prices for their eVTOL (electric vehicle take off landing) vehicles.
Alef Model A vs Doroni H1
The Alef Model A is not the only flying car. The Doroni H1 is another eVTOL (electric vehicle take off landing) vehicle that is highly anticipated. While they both share some futuristic properties, they have some key differences:
- Alef Model A: Designed to look and feel like a traditional car. This flying car is made for extended journeys, with a focus on integration into existing roadways. It can drive on roads and then elevate to fly.
- Doroni H1: Resembles a more conventional small aircraft, with a distinct emphasis on its aerial capabilities. This eVTOL is Designed for shorter flights. It is made for people who want the experience of being their own pilot.
Functionality:
| Specifications | Alef Model A | Doroni H1 |
| Range on road | 200 miles | N/A |
| Range in air | N/A | 60 miles per trip |
| Top Speed in air | N/A | 120 mph |
| Capacity | 1 driver, 1 passenger | 1 pilot, 1 passenger |
| Price (approx.) | $300,000 | $150,000 |
Are Flying Cars the Future?
The flying car market is estimated to reach a value of $1.5 trillion by 2040. Interestingly enough, that is about as much as the current car market is worth today. Moreover, many flying car companies are revealing plans for eVTOL’s with affordable price tags. All signs seem to lead to the possibility that flying cars will soon be a big part of the future.
As suggested in the Alef model A video, you can expect to see emergency responders, the army, and perhaps even local police flying them around, because response time is crucial for them.
But what if everyone does have a flying car in the future? What would it take to make that possible, and what would happen to our planet?
Will Flying Cars be Autonomous?
After a certain number of cars are in the air, flying would have to be autonomous. This would be the only way to ensure the safety of fliers as the sky begins to fill up vehicles (imagine distracted flying for a moment… It’s quite different than distracted driving).
Autonomous flying cars in the future would have to use radar and lidar to detect everything around them because since you can’t have lane markings in the air, the sole use of cameras would be useless for the self-flying car to stay on course; in fact, there would be no course; the entire sky could be everyone’s flying space.
What Would Happen if Everyone Did Fly Cars?
But imagine for a moment that we made it work, and this all happened. What would happen to the roads?
Just recently, the first freeway system in the world was discovered in an ancient Mayan city that remained hidden for thousands of years underneath a jungle in Guatemala.
Nature begins to take over roads when they are not being used. Everything turns green and lush, habitats start to form, and if everyone is flying from one place to another in an electric car, then the view underneath becomes the sort of sight that you used to travel miles away from home just to see.
Could the future be one where technology and nature co-exist? Where so much green makes the air you breathe so clean, that it gives a whole new meaning to the term fresh air— and it is only because we’re literally in the air.
A motivational thought indeed, and perhaps only a dream. Maybe someone who comes back to the future can let me know.
Are you reading this, Doc? If so, get in touch on our socials below.
