Chinese automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has unveiled a flying electric vehicle concept which is capable of both ground and air travel.
GAC unveiled the concept vehicle at its Tech Day in late June and it consists of a separable flight cabin and a vehicle chassis using the company’s ADiGO Pilot-powered autonomous driving software.
The GOVE – short for GAC On-the-Go Vertical EV – is made from 90% lightweight composite materials, a 3DoF flight control system, as well as aerospace-grade high-precision docking technology.
Six pairs of coaxial rotors fold out from atop the cabin, allowing it to detach from the autonomous EV chassis mid-drive.
The concept video GAC debuted along with its GOVE prototype also holds a few clues as to how the company hopes the pairing will work.
Instead of returning to its original EV chassis, the video depicts the road-portion of the GOVE almost as if it is swappable and interchangeable.
When the cabin detaches from the chassis, it then drives itself to the nearest GOVE charging location while the cabin takes flight. When the flight is over, the GOVE cabin seems to simply land atop the nearest available EV chassis.
This mimics some of the hallmark battery-swapping and battery-as-a-subscription services that are available predominantly in China, but which companies like Nio are slowly pushing into Europe.
As is to be expected with concepts of this sort we know very little other than what can be discerned from pictures and video. However, this is certainly one concept which will be worth watching on the off chance GAC is ever able to bring it to reality.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.