The Federal Aviation Administration approved a research and development license for the first functional flying car, an all-electric vehicle developed by Alef Automotive that can drive on roads and has flight capabilities, CNN reports.
The Alef Model A is a vertical take-off and landing vehicle that can travel more than 100 miles in the air or 200 miles on the road. The prototype, which the company says already flew in a test flight, currently has a limited top road speed of 25 m.p.h. The company says the car, which will have a $300,000 price tag, will carry one or two occupants. The propeller assemblies are fully enclosed, providing safety and reducing noise. Pre-purchase contracts can be made for $150, or for $1,500 for priority placement.
In the past month, the FAA has also approved testing licenses for two other eVTOL vehicles designed for urban use. Joby Aviation was granted a license last week for a six-propeller Osprey-like aircraft developed for Air Force's Agility Prime program that can be adapted for civilian "sky taxi" use. Archer Aviation also developed a similar craft for both civilian and military use.