An Energy-Intensive Pipe Dream with Little Acceptance
ResearchZEW Study on Urban Air Mobility
Vehicles for urban air mobility (UAM), such as eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing), also called air taxis, are often touted as having great potential. They are expected to be more efficient, quieter, and cheaper than conventional helicopters, potentially leading to broader use cases in the future. However, a meta-study by ZEW Mannheim reveals that travel times are rarely shortened, costs increase, and CO2 emissions are higher compared to electric cars. UAM could be useful primarily for emergency missions and connecting remote areas.
“Urban air mobility is often marketed as sustainable, fast, and affordable. However, our studies show that the actual benefits are very limited. For instance, eVTOLs emit less CO2 only when compared to combustion engines. In comparison to electric cars, eVTOLs require even more energy, which means they do not contribute positively to the energy transition in the transport sector,” explains Dr. Anna Straubinger from ZEW’s “Environmental and Climate Economics” Unit.
Minimal time savings with frequent take-offs and landings
Similar to other aircraft, eVTOL vehicles require take-off and landing spaces, which result in waiting times and travel distances for passengers. When these are factored in, time savings are rare, but the number of flight movements increases significantly. “Even with UAM accounting for just 0.1 per cent of the traffic volume in a city of about one million inhabitants, this would result in around 1,500 take-offs and landings per day,” calculates Anna Straubinger.
High costs with low public acceptance
UAM would primarily be an option for the wealthy, as the cost is significantly higher than other modes of transport. In the short to medium term, manufacturers and potential operators are aiming for a price of five euros per kilometre. This is about two and a half times more expensive than using a taxi (2 euros/km) and approximately 15 times more expensive than a private car (around 30 cents/km).
“High-income households are the main beneficiaries of eVTOL flights. However, the negative consequences such as noise and visual disturbances in the sky affect everyone, including the likely large proportion of the population that will not use UAM. This leads to lower public acceptance. eVTOLs offer a real added value in emergency situations and in connecting remote areas, and for these purposes, higher public acceptance is also expected,” Straubinger explains.
About the study
The study is a meta-analysis that evaluates the results of eleven previously published studies on UAM, most of which were authored by Anna Straubinger herself. Additionally, the paper provides policy-relevant recommendations for the future handling of UAM from an (environmental) economic perspective.
