A partnership between Urban-Air Ports and Hyundai Motor Group will see 65 electric urban-air ports created around the world.
Urban-Air Ports are designed to provide the infrastructure for autonomous drones, along with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) passenger vehicles.
Coventry has been chosen to host ‘Air One’, the world’s very first electric Urban-Air Port. It will open in 2022.
Hyundai’s Urban Air Mobility division began operations in 2019. It recruited former NASA scientist for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, Dr Jaiwon Shin, to lead its work.
Clean and accessible flight
Founded by architect Ricky Sandhu, Urban-Air Ports will service the growing interest in urban air mobility. Investment in development of electric flying vehicles and drones is forecast to exceed more than $1 trillion in the next two decades.
Using modular designs, the Urban-Air Port concept will provide hubs for urban air travel. It allows for maintenance and charging of vehicles, with hydrogen fuel cells able to make each hub self-sufficient.
The company believes this will allow Urban-Air Ports to be used in the event of disasters. Alternatively, a hub can easily be moved to a new location.
Urban air ready for take off
Coventry has been chosen as the first site for an Urban-Air Port due to its location in the heart of the UK. Local links to aerospace and automotive industries also made the city desirable, with a need for skilled workers to support research and development.
Urban-Air Port ‘Air One’ will be unveiled as part of Coventry’s 2021 UK City of Culture celebrations. AFC Energy will provide hydrogen fuel cell technology to bring off-grid power to the first hub.
Ricky Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman of Urban-Air Port, said: “The deal with the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group is a massive step towards our vision of installing hundreds of Urban-Air Ports worldwide.”
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