CES 2024 Dispatch: Is it the age of EVTOLS?

I've been to 22 CES shows, but this time, I'm only looking for one thing: climate tech.

In the list of technologies that have been kicking around for years never quite coming to fruition, like virtual reality, robot helpers, jetpacks, you can certainly add flying cars. They’ve long been considered a potential solution to traffic congestion and just a cooler, less invasive (on the ground, at least) way to get around.

And in recent years, there have been renewed efforts to develop flying taxis that are also electric—potentially displacing not just cars on the road, but also polluting and noisy helicopters and even small planes.

Companies like Joby Aviation (which had a short-lived partnership with Uber for an air taxi program), Archer, EHang in China, Volocopter, Vertical Aerospace, and others have all been working on EVTOL technology—and at CES 2024 today, another entrant made a pretty big splash. And I was there!

Supernal is a DC-based “Advanced Air Mobility” company backed by Hyundai, and headed by Dr. Jaiwon Shin, a 30-year veteran of NASA who has been leading Hyundai’s “urban air mobility” division, until that division formally became Supernal and revealed a very early prototype in 2020.

Anyway, I’m down the rabbit hole of history here.¹ Today, Supernal unveiled the S-A2, a four-passenger vehicle (with one pilot) that it says will begin commercial flights in 2028. (Yes, really.) The vehicle will fly at speeds of 120 miles per hour with a range of between 25 and 40 nautical miles. According to the company, the S-A2’s noise level upon takeoff will be only slightly louder than a dishwasher.

So, here’s the deal with EVTOLs and why they could be such an interesting part of the climate solutions mix:

• zero-emissions flight

• significant noise reduction, especially compared to all those helicopters pissing off everyone in New York (thanks, rich people)

• vertical takeoff and landing means no need for runways and extra infrastructure

• flying taxis reduce congestion on the roadways

• enough of these with enough range could replace cars, small planes, and even trains for short hops

Oh, also, the S-A2 is designed by Luc Donkerwolke, the guy who designed the Lamborghini Murcielago, and people got very excited when he appeared on stage. (He’s also the reason behind Hyundai’s currently surprisingly cool looks!)

Now, listen. CES is famous for big fancy unveilings that don’t end up panning out. EVTOLs in the US have to get past the FAA (which has issued guidelines that do support a 2028 timeline) and of course, consumer acceptance. Limitations in battery production and resources could hold them back. But Hyundai’s backing means huge amounts of money to help overcome these issues, and that means Supernal just vaulted to the front of the pack with today’s announcement.

Plus, everyone seems to be on board (no pun intended) with this evolution in mobility in some form, and I could imagine EVTOLs getting a welcome reception sooner than later in Europe, say, where France has already banned some short-haul flights because of climate concerns.

Would I hop in one of these to skip the Bay Bridge or Silicon Valley traffic literally as soon as it’s an option? Absolutely. Yes, please. Now, please.

Oh also? Look at this thing. Now that was a fun first day at CES. Speaking of which, follow me on Instagram for real-time reports on sustainability, climate tech, and weird stuff writ large from the show floor and various events!

The Supernal S-A2, and famed designer Luc Donkerwolke showing off its interior.

1. But if you’re in it with me, VTOLs have a really long history. Leonardo da Vinci was sketching helicopters, after all. The German designer Heinrich Focke flew his Focke-Wulf Fw 61 helicopter in the 1930s and by the 1960s, the British Harrier Jump Jet helped popularize these vehicles in the military.