Deloitte Issues Report on Viability of EVTOL UAM Transportation

In a new report , New York City-based consulting and advisory firm, Deloitte Global  suggests while that there has been progress in the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles, several barriers still stand in the way of widespread deployment.

In its report, Deloitte points to an ongoing challenge to manage and regulate an increasingly diverse airspace and overcome significant psychological barriers of consumers. After polling 10,000 individuals, the company found that nearly half of consumers viewed UAM vehicles as a potentially viable solution to roadway congestion; however, 80 percent believed these vehicles "will not be safe" or are uncertain about their safety.

Advancements to eVTOL technologies (e.g., collision avoidance systems) and ground infrastructure are necessary to widespread adoption. Most cities lack the requisite takeoff, landing, and service infrastructure areas to accommodate eVTOL deployment, especially when it comes to battery charging.

William Kucinski  is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

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