XPeng, through its eVTOL-centric business unit AeroHT, has successfully completed the first low-altitude flight of its electric X2 “flying car” eVTOL from the Tiande Centre to the Canton Tower in Guangzhou’s CBD area, according to the local news platform Gasgoo.
About AeroHT
XPeng Huitian widely known as AeroHT is an eVTOL developer under Chinese electric automaker XPeng. It is majority-owned by the company and its founder, He Xiaopeng.
AeroHT has already completed “tens of thousands” of safe flights since its inception more than a decade ago as the company seeks to accumulate the necessary data for the development of a safe commercial electric aircraft.
These efforts are part of the company’s goal to deliver the X3 eVTOL, which can apparently drive, park, and autonomously take off. In that sense, it is continuously refining the X2 eVTOL “flying car” despite having no wheels. Nonetheless, it features a similar body design to XPeng’s popular P7 EV.
The X2 serves as the company’s fifth-gen eVTOL, which started conducting test flights in June 2021. Since then, it has completed thousands of test flights, including its inaugural flight in Dubai last year.
In a significant development, the company successfully secured the X2’s special flight permit from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It marked a major milestone for the company, advancing the X2’s position as the first human-driven eVTOL to receive a conditional permit in the world’s largest auto market.
XPeng AeroHT’s X2 soars over Guangzhou City
XPeng AeroHT proudly announced on Friday the successful completion of the X2 eVTOL’s low-altitude flight above Guangzhou. It soared from Tiande Center to the Canton Tower, potentially paving the way for urban air mobility (UAM) and sightseeing tours in the area.
The initiative primarily aims to collect crucial data and flight experience from low-altitude urban routes, which can enable the company to gather insights about multiple aerial prospects.
XPeng AeroHT claimed that its products can now meet the eVTOL demand for complex urban environments after the latest test flight.
X2’s power and performance
XPeng AeroHT’s Voyager X2 flying car is ideal for urban transport applications owing to its 35-minute flight time between charges and 81mph (130km/h) top speed.
It also features an autonomous flight path planning technology with multiple innovative sensors, allowing the eVTOL to keep watch over the ground, return to base, and offer 100km of two-way real-time communication. However, XPeng AeroHT has yet to announce if it plans to launch the X2 flying car to the public.
