After The Hoversurf Bike Comes The eVTOL Hoversurf Formula
Credit to Author: Nicolas Zart| Date: Sun, 18 Aug 2019 15:54:31 +0000
Published on August 18th, 2019 | by Nicolas Zart
August 18th, 2019 by Nicolas Zart
As cool as the Hoversurf Hoverbike is, the company is now working on another electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air vehicle, the Hoversurf Formula. There are bigger ambitions for the latter.
Seriously now, how much fun would it be saying goodbye to colleagues as you make your way up the elevator to your eVTOL commuter, watching them go down road congestion hell while you go toward the sky? And as cool as a flying electric motorcycle is, HoverSurf is now going after the eVTOL challenge with a 4 to 6 passenger payload and 100 to 400 miles of range, or even further depending on its flight configuration.
From a flying electric bike to an air taxi, the Hoversurf Formula is a larger eVTOL aircraft matching those of , , and others in the industry. This electric aircraft uses no less than 52 fixed fans with folding wings to extend its flight range. The Formula is configured in 2 rows of 6 fans on both sides of the passenger compartment in front and in back. Altogether, 48 fans are used for lift, with the remaining 4 larger fans behind the passenger module only used in cruise mode.
Instead of using a traditional turboshaft, HoverSurf opted for a turbine and alternator configuration. It developed its own free-piston engine (FPE) Venturi fans, which you can see below.
Its patented “Venturi engine” is fixed (not thrust vectored), according to eVTOL.news. In a nutshell, a Venturi fan uses ordinary atmospheric air injected into the output stream of the engine/jet, which creates an additional stream that helps reduce the noise level of the high-speed jet inside the stream. This offers a significant increase in electric motor efficiency while lowering noise, a win-win situation.
This is the reason HoverSurf thinks this “formula” (pun intended) for its Formula Venturi fans is more efficient than the usual ducted fans (EDF).
Another interesting note about the HoverSurf Formula’s Venturi fans is that they are 2× as small as and safer than a traditional propeller’s thrust, with all rotating mechanisms hidden. The Formula can easily act as an eVTOL aircraft — helicopter — or somewhat as a conventional airplane.
Technically, the HoverSurf Formula carries a ballistic parachute and can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph) with a range of 300 km (186 miles) covered in 1.2 hours of flight time. It can be manned or autonomous and will presumably become fully autonomous as AV-eVTOL technology matures.
What especially caught my attention was Hoversurf estimating the Formula’s energy cost to be $0.29/km (0.6 miles) and a predicted cost below $100,000.
We need eVTOL aircraft, especially those designed to carry more than one passenger, but I still want my flying electric motorcycle. In an ideal world, I’ll use my HoverSurf Bike to get to my HoverSurf Formula.
Nicolas Zart Nicolas was born and raised around classic cars of the 1920s, but it wasn’t until he drove an AC Propulsion eBox and a Tesla Roadster that the light went on. Ever since he has produced green mobility content on various CleanTech outlets since 2007 and found his home on CleanTechnica. His communication passion led to cover electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, renewable energy, test drives, podcasts, shoot pictures, and film for various international outlets in print and online. Nicolas offers an in-depth look at the e-mobility world through interviews and the many contacts he has forged in those industries. His favorite taglines are: “There are more solutions than obstacles.” and “Yesterday’s Future Now”