Paris is preparing a small fleet of electric flying taxis to operate on various routes when it hosts the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer to take advantage of its current moment in the spotlight.
The prospective operator of the French capital, Volocopter of Germany, might be the first to fly taxis commercially if European regulators give their approval, according to AP News. However, unless aviation regulators in China beat Paris to the punch by approving a pilotless taxi for two passengers under development there, Volocopter could be the first.
French President to be the First Passenger?
French President Emmanuel Macron is the VVIP whom Volocopter CEO Dirk Hoke, a former top executive at aerospace giant Airbus, has in mind for his anticipated first passenger in Paris.
But whether Macron was on board or not, those trailblazing first flights would still be only minor steps for the developing industry, which needs to make enormous strides before flying taxis start displacing rivals on the ground.
Due to current battery technology's restricted range and payload capacity, eVTOL journeys will probably be brief and initially expensive.
One of the five anticipated Olympic routes would arrive at a floating platform on the beautified River Seine in the middle of the city. Developers point out that many customers first thought ride-hailing applications and E-scooters were absurd. Like previous technologies, some people bet that individuals who use flying taxis first would also encourage others to use them.
While simply flying over city traffic to beat it is appealing, it also depends on developments in airspace management.
The French Riveria is one of the specialty routes where eVTOL aircraft will be deployed by manufacturers in the upcoming ten years. However, they require technological advances to prevent flying taxis from colliding with one another and with all the other objects presently clogging the skies or anticipated to do so in significant numbers, such as millions of drones.
Pessimism From Some Aviation Analysts
Even as the industry claims a revolutionary new era is about to begin in the city that gave birth to the French Revolution in 1789, some aviation analysts aren't buying into predictions that eVTOLs will soon become widely accessible, commonplace, and practical substitutes for ride-hailing.
And even among eVTOL developers who vociferously gushed about the potential for their sector at the Paris show, several anticipated that competitors would run out of money before they launch prototypes.
France is one of the countries leading the way in developing eVTOL technology. In 2021, the French government announced a €100 million investment in eVTOL research and development. The government also works with companies like Volocopter and Ascendance Flight Technologies to test eVTOL aircraft in France.
In 2024, eVTOLs could transport passengers to and from the Paris Olympics. The French government plans to build a network of vertiports (landing pads for eVTOLs) in the Paris region in preparation for the games.
