Aboard the Xpeng X2 Flying Taxi
This page is translated from the original post "À bord du taxi volant Xpeng X2" in French.
- 19/05/2024 10:25
On the occasion of the presentation of its G6 and G9 models arriving on the French market this summer, Xpeng has dispatched a unit of its eVTOL X2.
Known for its electric cars, the Chinese manufacturer XPeng is also working on flying devices including the X2. To successfully carry out this project, XPeng was able to count on the support of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. The Chinese company also collaborated closely with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, which approved a successful initial demonstration after evaluating several criteria.
Capable of accommodating two people, the XPeng X2 more or less obviously draws inspiration from the P7, an electric sedan marketed by XPeng. It weighs only 560 kilograms empty, thanks in part to its carbon structure. This feeling of lightness is truly striking, especially with ultra-lightweight gullwing doors and seats reduced to their simplest expression but incredibly comfortable and secure. When boarding, one can almost move the craft with a small push of the leg. This extreme lightness allows for a frugal motorization transmitted to four inverted-pitch carbon propellers at each corner. According to the Chinese company, the machine is still capable of reaching speeds of 130 km/h.
The XPeng X2 has been designed for short low-altitude trips. It could, for example, be used for sightseeing flights or medical transportation operations. The most surprising thing when boarding is the complete absence of controls. Not the slightest steering wheel or even a small control stick at hand, which is normal for an autonomous vehicle. Indeed, the X2 is not intended to be piloted but to perform journeys in fully automatic mode. It takes off, flies, and lands completely autonomously.
This vehicle thus belongs more to the family of eVTOLs than to that of traditional flying cars. Projects in this category have been sprouting over the years, but none have truly moved beyond the experimental stage at this point. In France, it will still be a little while before this model is seen flying.
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