Many people have imagined a commute freed from traffic by flying cars. Silicon Valley firms are trying to turn that vision into reality with a new category of aircraft known as eVTOLs — electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. Reporter Itay Hod looks at one startup testing a personal model and the broader push to prepare multipassenger electric air taxis for urban use.
Palo Alto startup Pivotal is developing a one-seat electric aircraft called the Helix. Built to lift off and land vertically within roughly the footprint of a backyard, the Helix is currently aimed at recreational pilots. Its battery supports about 15 to 20 minutes of flight. Pivotal CEO Ken Karklin has described the Helix as “the world’s only sold-and-delivered electric vertical takeoff and landing personal aircraft.” A single-seat craft like the one owned by Michelle Villanueva runs about $200,000. Obtaining a pilot license for it can take as little as five days, and typical flights remain low, generally under 200 feet.
The technology goes beyond solo craft. Larger eVTOLs for multiple passengers are being developed for shuttle services and urban mobility. Archer Aviation, for example, has a contract to transport athletes during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Proponents say these vehicles could ease road congestion, but aviation specialists warn that introducing many new aircraft into the national airspace is complex. Michael McCormick, an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, says adding these vehicles will disrupt established airspace systems and will require careful planning and regulation.
For early adopters like Villanueva, the experience already feels futuristic. “It does feel a little bit like The Jetsons,” she says. “It’s amazing up here,” she adds, as eVTOLs hover and probe the edges of what could become routine urban travel.