Are Flying Cars The Answer To The Bay Area's Transportation Issues?

SAN FRANCISCO — Could Bay Area skies soon be filled with flying cars?

A prototype of San Mateo-based Alef Aeronautics’ Model Zero lifted off in a demonstration earlier this year, and other local companies — including Archer Aviation, Aska and Joby Aviation — are working on similar projects, according to the Bay Area News Group.

Alef has over 3,300 pre-orders for the Model Zero, priced at $300,000, the outlet reported, noting Alef founders believe the company will be the first to make a vehicle that can drive and fly, and that Alef is also developing fully autonomous models.

“We have small aviation and big aviation, but nothing that really covers the commuting range — say, 30 to 100 miles,” co-founder Constantine Kisly told the Bay Area News Group. “That’s exactly the space we’re targeting. And the question is: Who’s going to use it? Who’s going to occupy that space? We believe it’s going to be us, because it’s a perfect fit.”

As for whether flying cars could solve larger regional transportation issues, Metropolitan Transportation Commission Director of Regional Planning Dave Vautin told the outlet it’s not likely in the near future due to infrastructure issues.

“You can’t get away from the fact that a train can carry a huge number of people very efficiently,” Stanford University professor and public transportation expert Michael Ostrovsky said, according to Bay Area News Group. “That’s not going to change even with the latest technologies.”

Read more from the Bay Area News Group.