V-Space (official website) is a startup that constructed Korea’s first UAM (Urban Air Transportation) destined to move folks or payloads of as much as 120 Kg with their eVTOL all-electric automobile. As its identify signifies, it’s a Vertical Take Off and Landing automobile utilizing a quad-copter design. It has a seat for one individual and appears like a drone-like small helicopter.
eVTOL can fly over a 40-mile distance at a most pace of 60 Mph, a little bit bit beneath most U.S freeway’s pace limits. Of course, the primary benefit right here is the dearth of visitors jams, particularly in an emergency.
However, the corporate has a scorching new design referred to as V Speeder-X, which appears much more fashionable and aerodynamic. The payload capability is 230 Kg, however the pace has elevated to 50 Mph as one of many use circumstances is to make use of the drone as an ambulance. Note that the flight time is comparatively brief, with about ~20 minutes.
When in comparison with opponents, just like the Volocopter, the V Speeder-X is rather more compact and requires a vertiport (heliport for drones) that’s lower than half the scale, which implies it may land in additional locations, or that extra drones could possibly be accommodated in the identical touchdown space.
But what’s much more fascinating is how price-competitive it appears on paper. At $0.09M ($90,000), the fee is akin to that of a pleasant automotive. The subsequent competitor (EHang) prices ~$300k, whereas the costlier drones would possibly attain $10M, however their capability is greater.
V-Space even has the cheaper V Speeder (non-X) that could possibly be bought for about $38,000 with a 120 Kg capability however a most pace of 62 Mph.
The firm has very formidable plans for the following two years. It plans to make use of the CES 2024 occasion to satisfy world companions and desires to carry a flight demonstration at a serious present within the first half of 2024. In the previous, V_Space was current at occasions just like the Dubai Airshow.
By mid-year, it could begin world growth by opening a world department. In 2025, manufacturing will begin to serve world markets, and manufacturing and gross sales will kick off in precisely two years. We don’t have the newest income figures, however for the 12 months 2022, the corporate has generated $6M, in accordance with a consultant.
Beyond the flying automobile and controls design, V-Space claims its proprietary battery design brings vital aggressive benefits resembling a excessive Wh/Kg energy density (greater than Tesla and Kona EVs). The energy output of 40 C-rate can be spectacular. Finally, V_Space says that its battery design makes it safer and that batteries received’t explode even when uncovered to fireside. So far, the battery enterprise represents greater than 50% of the whole revenues.
Filed in . Read extra about CES, CES 2024, Korea and Startups.
