10 Things You Need To Know About The World's First Fully Electric Flying Car

Flying cars have been discussed as the future of personal transportation since the airplane became mainstream. As Doc said in “Back To The Future”, “where we’re going, we don’t need roads”. The idea of a car that can simply take off from the road and deposit the driver and passengers wherever they need to be is pretty stunning.

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Unfortunately, in 2024, there has only been minor progress in the world of flying cars. The best we can get for futuristic vehicles is electric cars, and even some hydrogen-powered vehicles, which at least have the sci-fi quality of producing only water vapor as their emission. The KleinVision Aircar is a viable flying car, that has done its maiden voyage and taken up its first passenger, but it has not gone on sale just yet. Other companies like Aeromobil and Terrafugia have also made their own entries in the flying car category, but none have really taken off, pardon the pun.

However, it appears there may have been a breakthrough in flying car technology in the electric world. Alef, a California start-up, has been working on its version of a flying car for about a decade, powered by electric motors. The company has finally gotten FAA approval for its flying car, which means that it legally can take to the skies in the United States. This makes it the newest entry in the flying car category that you might actually see in the sky. Here’s what we know so far.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from the Alef website, and coverage of the flying vehicle on reputable sites like CNBC.

Front view Lancia Pu+Ra Zero

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The Alef Model A Was Designed in 2015

Alef is a newer company, coming to life in the last ten years. The Model A is the first car to come out of the company. The name likely draws inspiration from the first ever Ford production car, also named the Model A.

It Was Originally Styled On A Napkin

• The foundation of Alef happened in 2015 because the founders believed that, like in the film “Back To The Future”, a flying car was possible in 2015.
• Jim Dukhovny partnered with Dr. Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, and Oleg Petrov who all had the capabilities in engineering and design to make the Model A happen.
• Together they worked in a coffee shop in Palo Alto to create a design for the Model A.

A classic startup story, with all the makings of a success, began here. Just like Spongebob, the original design for the Model A appeared on a napkin in a coffee shop. Better than if someone made it up.

The Scale Model Was Developed In 2016

The next step for Alef was to create a model that actually worked. Many car companies don’t worry about making scaled-down versions of their cars first, but for Alef this was crucial as it had to also fly. Model airplanes use the same principles of flight as larger ones, so Alef took that approach with its flying car.

The Original Model Was About Two Feet Long

• Alef found it massively important to ensure the model could take off vertically. Without vertical takeoff, in Alef’s opinion, it is not a true flying car.
• The Model also had to be able to maneuver on the ground using its wheelpower in the same manner as a normal car.
• Creating a small model was a proof of concept that allowed the company to secure funding.

With the model complete, Alef was able to show the world that their idea had wings. Not literally in this case, but the flying car was viable on the small scale, which meant it could work on a large scale as well.

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The First Prototype Flew In 2019

Alef Model A Flying Car In The Air

After securing funding, years more of research and development took place. Alef had to ensure the car could not only fly, but also work as a vehicle on the ground. With the money to build a prototype and run the company, by 2019 Alef could have an official test flight.

Autonomous Flight Was Used For Safety Purposes

• Before the 2019 prototype, Alef flew a “skeleton” which proved the aeronautic concepts of the scale model at a full-size level.
• The prototype flight was a demonstration for investors.
• The prototype demonstrated the ability to drive, take off vertically, and fly forward.
• At this time, the U.S. patent office began to indicate that Alef would get its patent on a unique flying car.

With the bones of the Model A built and proven, it was time for Alef to move to actually make the vision for a flying car a reality. The car had to be made into something that could sell in the real world.

Hirash Ragahzi Designed The Model A

Alef Model A flying car with closed doors

With the road and showroom in mind, Alef had to do something to make the Model A into something more than a science project. Alef brought in a designer who worked with some of the biggest brands in the world to define the style of its flying car. That man was Swedish designer Hirash Ragahzi.

He Formerly Worked For Bugatti And Jaguar

• Ragahzi was tasked with making the Model A stylish and modern in its appearance.
• Hirash gave the car a wild styling choice with vertically raised doors.
• The unique mesh body also makes the Model A among the most interesting cars we’ve seen to this point.
• A passenger/driver pod within a mesh structure is exactly the futuristic design you’d expect from a flying car.

Alef ensured the design of the car would not turn people off from it. The Model A has a truly futuristic look rather than the clunky compromises of other flying cars like the KleinVision. There is no ugly wing structure to run the lines of the car here.

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The Concept Debuted At The 2023 Detroit Auto Show

Alef flying car at Detroit Auto Show 2023 front

2023 was the year that Alef really hit the map for auto-enthusiasts and futurists. The Model A made a splash at the 2023 Detroit Autoshow where one of the concepts was shown off. Finally, the public could get a look at the flying car.

Alef Said This Will Not Be The Final Road-going Model

• The Model A did not show off any features at the Auto Show.
• Alef did not even give a chance for the public to see the cabin.
• There was no driving, nor flight demonstration.
• However, per Dukhovny said the concept is “pretty close” to the final version.

While we wait with bated breath for a more public demo of the vehicle, it is nice to see that Alef is willing to let the public get so close. With pre-orders open, hopefully more information will be available soon.

The Car Will Be Able To Take Off Vertically

For Alef, vertical takeoff is what makes a car with the ability to travel through the air a true “flying car”. If it has to use a runway to land and takeoff, it’s just a road-legal plane. Vertical takeoff indeed does separate the Model A into its own category for flying cars, and we see why Alef is so dedicated to it.

It Essentially Will Have Helicopter Capability

• The Model A has eight propellors under its mesh body to power flight and takeoff.
• It works in many ways similar to an electric drone.
• The propellors are capable of spinning at different speeds for directional flight and superior control of the flying car.
• Per Dukhovny, he can “teach you how to fly and drive this in about 15 minutes or less”, the controls and operation are so simple

A car with vertical takeoff is definitely something to be excited about. Combining a car and a helicopter is a true science fiction concept that may be a reality in just a year’s time. If Dukhovny is not bluffing about its ease of operation as well, it may be a true quantum leap in automotive technology.

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The Model A Will Begin Production In 2025

Pre-orders are available for the Model A right now, which means that production is slated to begin soon. Alef claims a 2025 date for the building of the ordered vehicles.

It’s Unclear When Consumers Will Receive Delivery

• Alef does not have a factory for wide-scale production.
• It has a warehouse where the cars would be built by hand.
• Over 2800 pre-orders have been placed, which would take a prohibitive amount of time to build by hand in a warehouse.

Unfortunately, when there’s this number of pre-orders for a carmaker that cannot possibly deliver those orders, it smells like trouble. Whether Alef will simply not be able to deliver even a fraction of the pre-ordered vehicles, or if there is potentially a Lordstown Motors situation ongoing here is yet to be seen. Perhaps additional funding could produce a real factory for Alef?

The Car Will Sell For $300,000

Alef’s ultimate goal as an automaker is to make the flying car affordable to the average individual. At the current scale of production, this is simply impossible. The projected price of the Model A is about $300,000. However, in the grand scheme of things, this isn’t that crazy.

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• $300,000 is a high price for a car, but it’s cheaper than buying a small aircraft like a Cessna, which sells its cheapest model for $372,000.

$300,000 is a lot of money for a car, but it is not a lot of money for an airplane. When you factor in buying an electric car and a plane would cost at least $100,000 more, the price is actually an absolute steal.

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The Ground Range Will Be 200 Miles

The Model A has to work as a car, that is one of the key goals of the Alef brand. With this in mind, Alef has put a respectable 200-mile range for driving into the Model A. On top of that Alef has delivered triple digit flying range as well.

The Air Range Will be 110 Miles

• It’s unclear if this is a combined range of over 300 miles or if it gets 200 miles on the road OR 110 miles in the air.
• 200 road miles puts the Alef Model A in a similar tier to the Nissan Ariya or the Nissan Leaf, legitimate huge brand EVs.
• 110 air miles is around half of a standard helicopter range, however, electric-powered helicopters typically have a similar range in the low 100s.

These electric ranges put the Model A in a competitive position in both the EV and electric aeronautics space. While EVs will soon experience a quantum leap in battery technology that will massively increase range, electric aeronautics are still burgeoning. The advantage of being one of the only electric flying cars to ever be conceived, let alone built, is that you don’t really have any true competitors. Alef will set the bar here, and not have to compete with anyone directly.

Alef Is Considering A Hydrogen-Powered Version

With the futuristic idea of a flying car, why not use a futuristic power source? Hydrogen is an intriguing alternative to battery-powered EVs in the world of zero-emission vehicles. Hydrogen power has applications across the spectrum of automobiles, from true eco-offerings, to high performance. So, why not a flying car?

Alef Claims Hydrogen Will Double The Range

• The weight of batteries likely makes flight a more difficult prospect. Hydrogen is the lightest element in the universe and therefore arguably a better option for a flying car.
• Since it’s lighter, more hydrogen could come onboard the Alef Model A.
• More fuel means more range, a simple concept, but one that has eluded many automakers with their hydrogen offerings.

More range, double per Alef, would put the Model A amongst the longest-range EVs and make it a direct competitor to piston-powered helicopters in the flying world. It seems like a hydrogen version is a no-brainer.

The idea of a flying car is everything we’ve ever wanted. Alef is right that a flying car that cannot do vertical take-off is not like what we see in the Jetsons, and is barely a flying car at all. We’re excited to see what’s in store from Alef, and we’re waiting patiently for a public demonstration of the Model A’s capabilities.