The future of urban mobility: SXSW Panel addresses the potential and inclusivity of eVTOLs
Community engagement and inclusivity will play a critical role in the successful implementation of eVTOL technology.
The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry envisions a future where people soar above traffic jams and congested streets in sleek, zero-emission electric aircraft. These eVTOLs would enable people to reach destinations in minutes rather than hours by car.
While this vision of urban air mobility is captivating, critics contend that eVTOLs will merely be expensive toys for the wealthy to reach airports quickly.
To address these concerns and explore how electric air taxis can benefit a broader range of consumers, an Embraer-hosted panel at this year's SXSW Festival brought together experts from various sectors of the industry.
The panellists, moderated by Daniel Moczydlower, President of Embraer X, included Liza Josias from Embraer's eVTOL company, Eve; Advanced Air Mobility Expert, Clint Harper; and Bryan Willows, Director Americas, Advanced Air Mobility, Bristow Group.
Tackling the 'Flying Car' Misconception
The panellists first addressed the misconception that eVTOLs are simply 'flying cars’. They argued that this term could undermine an industry striving to present a more practical and serious image.
"The thing that worries me [about the flying cars moniker] is that evokes this image of my neighbour taking off and flying to his job," said Brian Wilkes. "These are fully certified by the FAA and other certification agencies around the world and are commercially piloted."
Liza Josias from Eve reinforced this point, urging the eVTOL industry to steer clear of "crazy social media fluff" and comparisons to "The Jetsons." She stressed that "we're not going to have George Jetson landing in random places."
In a LinkedIn comment, Adam Goldstein, responding to the Flying Car debate, said that he had initially resisted the description but eventually embraced it because the media continued to use it regardless. "Moral of the story is if no one can pronounce the name of your industry, you may want to consider a new name," he remarked.
Enhancing Urban Mobility for Everyone
The panellists also tackled concerns that eVTOLs would cater only to the affluent by emphasising the potential for these vehicles to enhance urban mobility for all. Josias explained that eVTOLs would offer a new way to fly across congested urban centres, which would be advantageous to a broad spectrum of people.
"By 2050, two and a half billion more people will be living in cities. Which means that the way we move around, the way we connect with one another is going to get more complex. There's going to be more challenges and we need to come up with innovative solutions," she said.
Josias stressed that the purpose of eVTOL technology is not to create a niche product for the elite but to provide a practical and efficient transportation solution that can ease the increasing strain on urban infrastructure.
By offering a quicker and more convenient way to navigate crowded cities, eVTOLs have the potential to enhance the quality of life for urban residents across the socioeconomic spectrum.
Eve is currently exploring this concept in the San Francisco Bay Area, a polycentric urban region with economic centres dispersed from one another. Last year, United Airlines and Eve announced that they would collaborate with local and state officials and infrastructure, energy, and technology providers to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to introduce eVTOL aircraft flights.
For context, the Bay Area ranks 15th globally in traffic congestion, with drivers spending an average of 97 hours in traffic last year. An earlier study by the US Census Bureau identified the Bay Area as the region with the highest percentage of 'mega commuting' in the United States — travelling 90 or more minutes and 50 or more miles to work.
Consequently, there is potential for United Airlines and Eve to seamlessly connect economic centres such as Palo Alto, Mountain View (Silicon Valley), Oakland, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Central Business District.
Clint Harper, an urban planning and design expert, highlighted the importance of inclusivity and learning from past mistakes when developing urban air mobility. He emphasised the need to involve and give voice to marginalised and disadvantaged communities that transportation infrastructure projects have negatively impacted.
"Aviation can bring relief to those pain points, depending on where you go, but you have to go there and listen," Harper stressed. He underscored the importance of engaging with community members and understanding their unique needs and concerns related to transportation.
Harper's comments highlight the crucial role that community engagement and inclusivity will play in the successful implementation of eVTOL technology.Â
By actively seeking input from diverse stakeholders and learning from the missteps of previous transportation initiatives, the eVTOL industry can ensure that the benefits of urban air mobility are distributed equitably and that the needs of all communities are considered.
Ensuring accessibility and affordability while opening new career paths
The panellists also tackled the question of affordability, recognising that initial eVTOL flight prices may be higher than traditional transportation options. However, they stressed that prices are expected to fall over time as adoption grows and the market matures.
Josias mentioned research conducted by Eve in Miami, which indicated that a 20-mile eVTOL flight could cost around $140-$150 in the early days. She noted that while the operator will set the price, the cost per eVTOL flight is expected to decrease as more people embrace the technology, making urban air mobility more affordable and accessible to a broader population.
Lastly, the panellists highlighted the potential for eVTOLs to democratise aviation by providing a more accessible career path to pilots. "The promise of advanced mobilities is that we can reduce that barrier to entry for pilots," said Wilkes, noting the potential for new training methods and simplified vehicle operations to open the field to a more diverse pool of talent.
By reducing the costs and barriers associated with becoming a pilot, the eVTOL industry could create new career opportunities and foster greater diversity within the aviation sector. This, in turn, could help challenge the perception of aviation as an exclusive and elitist field, making it more accessible and inclusive for people from a wider range of backgrounds.