Back to the Future fans may want to sit down for this bit of news. A.L.I. Technologies is a startup from Japan that is offering a hoverbike for the low, low price of $680,000 USD. What you get is something that you literally have not seen on the road.
Yes, the bike does hover, though it’s not exactly a bike. We’ve covered all manner of flying “motorcycles,” and yes that word is written in air quotes. Is it a bike? Not really. It’s not a hovercraft either, but it’s a flying bike that hovers over the road like a helicopter, at least based on the videos.
Covered by multiple news outlets like Reuters, the product is called the XTurismo LImited edition, and it uses a conventional internal combustion engine and four electric motors that will allow for up to 40 minutes of flight and a top speed of up to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour). The concept is similar to how Yamaha managed to create a gasoline-powered drone concept, with the gasoline motor present to charge the batteries and to help sustain flight for an extended period of time.
The vehicle gets itself up off the ground using four propellers, and it was recently tested at the Fuji Speedway in Japan.
While impressive, and even with full safety gear, however, it’s not road-legal for most individuals. Though, emergency teams could use it to access hard-to-reach areas.
A.L.I. Technologies is also backed by other giants in the industry, which include Mitsubishi Electric Corp., and Kyocera Corp. In fact, its engine is made by a well-known name in motorcycles, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.
It will be interesting to see just how far this product will go. The applications for this kind of personal mobility are all being explored by other companies and brands for other applications outside of the civilian market. At the price that it is at right now, however, expect the XTurismo Limited Edition to fall into the hands of some very wealthy individuals for now.
