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Flying electric taxis look set to finally take off in 2025

Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are on track to start commercial passenger carrying services in 2025, but can they stand out from conventional helicopters?

By Jeremy Hsu

23 December 2024

Joby Aviation is developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Flying taxis may finally arrive this year, thanks to the development of a new breed of electric aircraft that are much quieter than helicopters – and potentially greener as well.

These electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) models aren’t simply a new spin on helicopters. Rather than relying on one large set of rotor blades for lift, these vehicles use multiple smaller propellers, similar to remote-controlled drones. The propellers face upwards like helicopter rotors during vertical take-off or landing, but can also tilt…

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