Volocopter, what the German company does in the Volocity project for Adr in Fiumicino
From 2024, passengers at Fiumicino airport will also be able to take a flight to reach the center of the capital. All the details on Adr's project with the German startup Volocopter (among the partners also Atlantia and the Chinese Geely)
From Fiumicino to Termini station in 20 minutes by flying and electric taxi from 2024.
Volocopter, a pioneer of urban air mobility, the investment holding Atlantia and Aeroporti di Roma yesterday announced a partnership to bring electric air taxis to Rome. “Together with the National Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) and ENAV, this pool of companies is strongly committed to bringing highly sustainable innovation to the aviation field”, reports a note.
The German startup Volocopter aims to make Fiumicino airport a pioneer site for Volocity, the battery-powered two-seater taxi with rotating blades it is developing.
"We are proud to help shape the future in collaboration with Volocopter, one of the most advanced developers for this new type of aircraft and service: this partnership testifies to Adr's commitment to sustainability and innovation and also our will to to be pioneers in designing the intelligent mobility of the future on these premises ”commented Marco Troncone, CEO of Adr.
Volocopter is one of several companies (Uber, Airbus and Boeing) that intends to respond to the demand for autonomous flying vehicles. The air travel market in cities could be worth $ 674 billion by 2040, according to a 2018 study by Morgan Stanley.
In 2019, Chinese carmaker Geely also invested in Volocopter, acquiring a minority stake in the German flying taxi start-up.
All the details on the German company Volocopter and the Volocity project.
WHAT IS VOLOCITY
The VoloCity is the aircraft prototype powered by nine rechargeable and interchangeable batteries developed by the German Volocopter.
Rome is one of the first cities in Europe to have decided to bring urban air mobility services to its citizens with Volocopter. Paris has approved a partnership to bring electric air taxis to the city in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.
THE ATLANTIA, ADR AND VOLOCOPTER PROJECT
The service will offer battery-powered and therefore emission-free air transport of people and goods. Together with the Italian authorities and regulatory bodies and with the full support of Atlantia, Aeroporti di Roma and Volocopter will sensitize passengers and public opinion on the advantages of urban air mobility and pave the way to bring it to Italy within the next 2-3 years.
In 2024, according to Adr forecasts, they will start from the roof of one of the car parks from Fiumicino airport and reach Termini station. “But other itineraries are also being studied that could lead Volocopter to land on the roofs of some hotels in the city, those naturally most suitable for shape and position when such vehicles land. The service can be booked with a smartphone app ”emphasizes the Dire agency.
TRAVEL
The journey in one of the vehicles, which takes off and lands vertically, will take about 15 minutes, compared to 45 minutes or more by car.
THE COST
The initial cost of a ride will be around € 150, a price that will likely decrease as the service becomes mainstream.
WHAT VOLOCOPTER DOES
Volocopter, founded in 2011, hopes to obtain a commercial airline license from the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) within three years and then begin operations, its commercial director Christian Bauer said.
Urban air mobility will be part of the solution for heavily congested urban centers around the world. The German company is the only developer of eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) with a portfolio of multi-aircraft and fixed-wing type products that can be used for the transport of passengers and cargo. The company is also in talks with the Chinese regulator, Reuters reported this summer.
DAIMLER, BLACKROCK AND INTEL CAPITAL AMONG INVESTORS
Volocopter counts Daimler, BlackRock and Intel Capital among its investors. Volocopter's founders are its main shareholders.
THE ATLANTIA INVESTMENT
Last March Atlantiainvested 15 million euros in the German startup Volocopter. "It is 2% of the company," said Carlo Bertazzo, CEO of Atlantia, to Sole 24 Ore .
A MINORITY SHARE IN THE HAND OF THE CHINESE GEELY
Chinese carmaker Geely also invested in Volocopter in 2019. The investment guaranteed a stake of the Chinese company of approximately 10% in Volocopter. In addition, the head of Zhejiang Geely, Daniel Li Donghui, has joined Volocopter's advisory board.
THE ASSURANCE ON THE CHINESE PARTICIPATION
As the Financial Times pointed out at the time, Volocopter's chief financial officer Rene Griemens acknowledged possible concerns about the move, but stressed that Geely would not be a "dominant investor" with a slightly lower stake than Daimler and Intel.
"They are not buying the technology and there is no technology transfer involved," Griemens told the Ft .
The partnership with Geely, Griemens said, would open up “good sourcing opportunities” for the company with major battery manufacturers.
EVTOL GERMANS ALSO IN CHINA
Finally, Volocpter is not only moving in Europe.
Last September, the German flying taxi startup announced it would sell 150 eVTOLs to the joint venture it formed with Aerofugia, a unit of Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Geely.
Volocopter expects the partnership to bring eVTOL aircraft to China within the next three to five years. China represents the "greatest single market opportunity" for the urban air mobility sector, said Florian Reuter CEO Volocopter on the occasion. At the opening ceremony, Volocopter also signed a manufacturing contract with Volocopter Chengdu and Geely Technology's General Aviation Manufactory Base to produce Volocopter's aircraft and parts in China.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/volocopter-volocity-adr-fiumicino/ on Thu, 28 Oct 2021 10:47:53 +0000.