Can Urban Air Mobility be sustainable?

Abstract

How can Urban Air Mobility (UAM) decrease carbon footprint, reduce commute time, and be more sustainable than conventional transportation? Volocopter want to start their operations at Paris Olympic games 2024. In an UAM-Scenario in Paris by max. direct distance of 50 km an eVTOL can save on average without considering boarding time around 10 min compared to car and compared to the public transportation around 31 min. The nominated CO2-Emission for 2 PAX calculated based on selected UAM-routes and vehicle types. Therefore eVTOL is more sustainable than Internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) - around 30% CO2-Emission can be saved. But eVTOL consume more energy, therefore produce more C02-Emission. Compared to an electric car around 2779% CO2-Emission and compared to an electric train around 3395% significantly more. In an regional Airport-to-Airport scenario from Paris by max. direct distance of 300 km an eVTOL can save on average without considering boarding time around 77 min compared to car and compared to the public transportation around 98 min. The nominated CO2-Emission for 2 PAX calculated based on selected UAM-routes and vehicle types. Therefore eVTOL is significantly more sustainable than Internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) - around 90% CO2-Emission can be saved. But eVTOL consume more energy, therefore produce more C02-Emission. Compared to an electric car around 402% CO2-Emission and compared to an electric train around 480% significantly more.