The Volocopter might look like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie ... but the future is closer than you think.
The Volocopter might look like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie ... but the future is closer than you think.
Nikolay Kazakov, Karlsruhe
The emission-free vehicle will be released in cities around the world as early as next year, including Dubai, Singapore and Germany.
The emission-free vehicle will be released in cities around the world as early as next year, including Dubai, Singapore and Germany.
Nikolay Kazakov, Karlsruhe
The Volocopter is described by the German company as the first manned, fully electric and safe <a target="_blank" target="_blank">VTOL</a> in the world.
The Volocopter is described by the German company as the first manned, fully electric and safe VTOL in the world.
Volocopter
In simple terms, it's an eco-friendly flying taxi!
In simple terms, it's an eco-friendly flying taxi!
Volocopter
Designed to bypass the worst traffic in some of the world's biggest cities, the Volocopter will initially be able to transport passengers 27 kilometers.
Designed to bypass the worst traffic in some of the world's biggest cities, the Volocopter will initially be able to transport passengers 27 kilometers.
Volocopter
Based on drone technology, it will be able to carry two passengers and the company hopes within 10 years it will transport 100,000 people every hour.
Based on drone technology, it will be able to carry two passengers and the company hopes within 10 years it will transport 100,000 people every hour.
Brandlab / Skyports / Volocopter / GRAFT
Eventually, the Volocopter will become fully autonomous, which will greatly reduce cost and make it just as cheap as a regular taxi, the company says.
Eventually, the Volocopter will become fully autonomous, which will greatly reduce cost and make it just as cheap as a regular taxi, the company says.
Volocopter
It was recently on display in Berlin at the Greentech festival, an event designed to showcase the technology and possibilities of a greener future.
It was recently on display in Berlin at the Greentech festival, an event designed to showcase the technology and possibilities of a greener future.
Volocopter
The festival is the brainchild of former Formula One world champions Nico Rosberg, who has taken to life after F1 as an eco warrior.
The festival is the brainchild of former Formula One world champions Nico Rosberg, who has taken to life after F1 as an eco warrior.
Nikolay Kazakov, Karlsruhe
"It's not in 10 years' time, it's at the end of next year that it will be commercialized," the German tells CNN's Supercharged.
"It's not in 10 years' time, it's at the end of next year that it will be commercialized," the German tells CNN's Supercharged.
Volocopter
"It's just phenomenal because this is going to revolutionize the way we move and it's going to decongest cities as well because we can quite easily use the airspace much more."
"It's just phenomenal because this is going to revolutionize the way we move and it's going to decongest cities as well because we can quite easily use the airspace much more."
Volocopter
The Volocopters will drop off and pick up passengers and swap batteries in 'Volo-Hubs' and 'Volo-Ports.
The Volocopters will drop off and pick up passengers and swap batteries in 'Volo-Hubs' and 'Volo-Ports.
Volocopter
The Volocopter is based on drone technology and the batteries will be swapped by robots before continuing each journey.
The Volocopter is based on drone technology and the batteries will be swapped by robots before continuing each journey.
Volocopter
"It's cool, it's sustainable, it's most of the time even cheaper, so it's here to stay and I really hope we all learn to embrace," Rosberg says.
"It's cool, it's sustainable, it's most of the time even cheaper, so it's here to stay and I really hope we all learn to embrace," Rosberg says.
Volocopter
Volocopter is the future of green city travel
CNN  — 

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the volocopter, the first manned, fully electric and safe vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft in the world.

It might look like something out of a sci-fi movie based in a distant future, but this vehicle is being released in cities around the world next year.

The vehicle was one of the highlights from the Greentech festival, an event in Berlin designed to showcase the technology and possibilities of a greener future.

The festival is the brainchild of former Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg, who has turned away from the gas-guzzling life of an F1 driver to become an eco warrior.

- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/190606135624-volocopter-7.jpg?q=x_4,y_0,h_2456,w_4365,c_crop/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/190606135624-volocopter-7.jpg?q=x_4,y_0,h_2456,w_4365,c_crop/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="
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Updated 4:36 AM EDT, Fri June 7, 2019
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volocopter 7
The Volocopter revolutionizes green travel
01:03 - Source: CNN

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“It’s not in 10 years’ time, it’s at the end of next year that it will be commercialized,” Rosberg tells CNN’s Supercharged. “In places like Dubai, Singapore and Germany.

“It’s just phenomenal because this is going to revolutionize the way we move and it’s going to decongest cities as well because we can quite easily use the airspace much more.”

Taking off and landing vertically, the vehicle will offer a higher degree of safety, the German Volocopter company says, and will drop off and pick up passengers and swap batteries in ‘Volo-Hubs’ and ‘Volo-Ports.’

The volocopter is based on drone technology and the batteries will be swapped by robots before continuing each journey. It aims to carry 100,000 passengers per hour across the world within the next 10 years.

- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/190314113135-cactus-biofuel-nopalimex.jpg?q=x_27,y_15,h_1095,w_1945,c_crop/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/190314113135-cactus-biofuel-nopalimex.jpg?q=x_27,y_15,h_1095,w_1945,c_crop/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="
" data-timestamp-html="
Updated 4:36 AM EDT, Fri June 7, 2019
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cactus biofuel nopalimex
Cactus biofuel: Mexico's 'Green Gold'
01:28 - Source: CNN

Emission-free and giving off almost no sound against the background noise of a city, the vehicle will initially be able to carry two people up to 27 kilometers.

“Of course there are some challenges remaining but the most fascinating aspect of it: It’s not just for the rich and wealthy because once it goes autonomous, it will cost only as much as a taxi costs nowadays,” Rosberg explains.

“So it will really be accessible to a lot of people and I think that’s the power of it. The future of greentech is that it’s coming now! And it’s not a compromise anymore, it’s not like you need to forfeit something.

“It’s cool, it’s sustainable, it’s most of the time even cheaper, so it’s here to stay and I really hope we all learn to embrace it because it’s very, very powerful and will have a great big impact.”