What if you could easily get from New York to Boston or from London to Manchester in an hour?
As populations continue to increase and cities become denser, transportation - whether public or private - is drawn into the limelight of discussions. We want to reduce and avoid carbon emissions from cars, eliminate traffic jams and keep noise pollution to a minimum. Is the future closer than we think? We’re talking about flying cars…well almost.
In this Episode of Sustainability Matters Today, I speak with Oliver Walker-Jones, Head of Communications at Lilium, and Champion of Sustainable Aircraft. This well-funded German startup is working on creating a sustainable “Air-Taxi”, a new type of aircraft that can travel up to 300 kilometres (186 miles) per hour. The futuristic-looking vehicle doesn't need a runway because it does vertical takeoffs and landings like a helicopter, except safer, quieter and more efficiently.
The 36-engine, all-electric aircraft can hold four passengers plus a pilot and hopes to eliminate short-distance flights by offering an easier solution. Currently, the team is working on finishing their prototype and achieving scalable production. They are looking to roll out their fleet of Lilium Jets around 2025. In the meantime, a few days before this episode was published, Lilium raised an additional $35 million and has achieved unicorn status - valued at $1 billion!
What they describe as “the new mobility service for the modern, urbanized age” could really transform our skies and our future. While it may be a few years away before we can take advantage of this new form of travel, check out the episode to find out all about Lilium’s vision and future plans!
Lilium Resources:

Website: https://lilium.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilium
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liliumaviation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lilium-aviation-gmbh