Fully Electric With 16 propellers, Joby S2 is a Revolutionary VTOL Aircraft

By: | December 11th, 2015

The idea of a flying car has been stuck on the drawing board for decades. But thanks to accelerating developments in technology, personal electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft may soon become a reality.

Commuter Craft – The Future of Commuting

California-based aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation has developed a two-seater aircraft named the Joby S2. Powered by lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide batteries, Joby S2 can change the future of travel.

Joby S2 Doesn’t Need a Runway for Take-Off

This environmentally-friendly personal airplane has 16 electric propellers along its wings and V-shaped tail. Twelve of these tilting propellers can face upwards to provide vertical lift for vertical take-off and landing. Once the aircraft is in the air, they tilt forward to develop forward thrust. The other four propellers are used for forward power only.

Range and Speed

This amazing two-seater electric plane can reach speeds of up to 200 mph (322 km/h) with a range of approximately 200 miles. Joby S2 also requires almost five times less energy than conventional auto transportation, making it highly environmentally friendly.

It will cost an estimated $200,000 but due to its fully electric operation, the operating costs will be much lower than that of a helicopter.

Nidhi Goyal

Nidhi is a gold medalist Post Graduate in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

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