Skip to main content

ads1

Automotive Industry Trends - Dutch Flying Car Company Takes Off

PAL-V
The PAL-V is a solution to increasing congestion in cities, highways and skyways. (Image: PAL-V Europe)

After many years pioneering with well-known parties such as the Dutch Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) creating a flying and driving vehicle, John Bakker formed a management team and recruited employees to start PAL-V Europe. Investors have been found to back the start-up, and currently initiatives are being taken towards securing more investors to speed up market launch.

Bakker invested 6 years developing a vehicle concept that can fly and drive: PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle). A dream Henry Ford already had building the first car. This will be a revolution in door to door mobility soon. In countries with underdeveloped infrastructure it means safe, faster transportation but also in developed countries people save lots of time.

The market response is huge: already 2 million website hits. Daily mails from people wanting to buy one. Professional applications like surveillance, mobility for aid organisations, post war aid, for private use bringing faster transportation or just big fun.

On the ground, the slim, aerodynamic 3-wheel vehicle is comfortable as a luxury car. It has the agility of a motorbike, thanks to its patented 'tilting' system. The rotor and propeller are folded away until PAL-V is ready to fly.

Airborne, it flies under the 4,000 feet floor of commercial air space. With land and air space reaching capacity, this is the last free space.

PAL-V is highly fuel-efficient, powered by an environmentally certified car engine. It runs on petrol but it also runs on biodiesel or bio-ethanol. It reaches speeds up to 200 km/h both on land and in the air.

Soon private flying will no longer be the exclusive domain of executives and celebrities. If infrastructure does not exist or congestion/obstacles block the destination - fly. If the weather is too bad to fly - drive. Driving and flying combined costing little more than an executive saloon car.

The concept is combining two proven technologies. It fits within the new certification regulations that exist since 2005 in the US and Europe.

Next to Bakker the management team now consists of Robert Dingemanse who has championed several successful product launches/business start-ups at Philips and Jim Emanuels/Tacstone, specialised in starting up new businesses. This team has the right skills/experience to turn the concept into a business success.

Source: PAL-V
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Drive: 2007 Honda Civic GX

Previews Greenie spendthrifts wanted: A heavier, slower Civic with a smaller trunk. Oh, yeah, and it costs 50 percent more. Never mind that we in Michigan are just emerging from our igloos after a long cold winter. The world is heating up, the ice caps are melting, and when that melt is complete, we’ll all be living high in the mountains in houses on stilts to stay dry. Forty days and 40 nights the waters will rage, and when the ice caps refreeze, we’ll all be fighting over who called first dibs on those last two pigs for our celebratory barbecues, since the unicorns were already eaten by sharks. There are people who would argue that that sinister little creation, the automobile, is responsible for it all. We blame Al Gore, China, sweatshops, and greenie celebrities who flit about in private jets. Those who want to make a difference drive hybrids, while those who researched their decision drive diesels. Those who are truly enlightened and want to make a difference, however, seek someth...
10 comments
Read more

NAIAS Detroit 2007: Volkswagen continues BLUETEC offensive

Volkswagen is presenting the Concept Tiguan SUV study at the North American International Auto Show. In the first half of next year the series version of the “Touareg’s little brother” will be debuting in the US. The Tiguan is being advanced as a significant component in Volkswagen’s model range in order to expand the market position in the US. Moreover, Volkswagen expects additional US growth starting in 2008 from the market launch of the cleanest TDI of all times. The introduction of the Turbodiesel direct injection engine equipped with a NOx secondary treatment system is taking place as part of the BLUETEC offensive in the latest Jetta– the most successful car in America from a German manufacturer. European injection technologies are increasingly convincing US customers: In 2006 Volkswagen of America had sales 4.9 percent above the previous year. This corresponds to 235,140 vehicles sold in the US. The positive signs for 2007 include the Eos being offered for the first time over an ...
4 comments
Read more

Kia Motors America Introduces 2007 Kia Borrego SUV at 2008 NAIAS

Newest Addition to Kia Line-up Makes its Debut at North American International Auto Show DETROIT, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of record 2007 sales, Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the world debut of the all-new 2009 Kia Borrego midsize SUV at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, further bolstering its product offerings in the United States. 2009 Kia Borrego Inspired by Kia's "less is more" design philosophy, Borrego was intended to convey a pure and functional look. It joins Kia's versatile and stylish line of cars and SUVs for those who enjoy active and energetic lifestyles. Set to go on sale this summer as a 2009 model, Kia Borrego houses Kia's first-ever V8 engine, making it the most powerful vehicle to date. "Kia is proud to deliver a stylish and amenity-filled SUV to consumers who are passionate about what they drive," said Len Hunt, president and CEO of KMA. "We strive to make quality vehicl...
Post a Comment
Read more