Moller International (OTCBB:MLER) announced today that it has completed the design of a true hybrid flying car"¦a 2-passenger car capable of lifting off vertically and flying for about 15 minutes. Called the autovolantor it is designed to function on the road very much like a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) until one gets stuck in traffic. At that point, it can lift off vertically and fly at up to 150 mph for a short distance. Upon landing it can drive on the ground for up to 40 miles or longer using one of its eight Rotapower® engines to generate electrical power.
Moller International (the "Company") received a request to design this vehicle from a wealthy foreign businessman who was unable to commute from the city to his country home due to the overcrowded streets of Moscow. The Company conducted a preliminary analysis and found that a hybrid propulsion system powered by engines and electric motors together with its propriety eight-fan stabilized aircraft design could be blended to create the autovolantor. Scale model wind tunnel testing and further analysis predicted surprisingly good all around performance for the combined car-aircraft. While the cost for developing a prototype was estimated at over $5 million, the Company believes production versions of the autovolantor could be produced for under $250,000 in modest volumes.
The big question that remains is how the autovolantor could be used, and whether regulations and licensing would permit its use within major cities around the world. "It seems that it might be practical in some parts of the world, but in our view a roadable aircraft (versus a flying car) is still more practical for the greatest number of people," said Dr. Paul Moller, founder and President of Moller International. "The autovolantor is technically possible, but flying it in US cities is not going to be politically acceptable until it has been deployed successfully in other roles and environments. Practical or not, it excites the imagination to think about being able to rise vertically out of a traffic jam and just go!" he concluded.
For a copy of a presentation on the autovolantor generated for the 2008 SAE Wichita Aviation Technology Congress & Exhibition, visit the Company's web site at www.moller.com.
About Moller International
Moller International was formed in 1983 and is the developer of the roadable four-person Skycar® and two-person Neuera aircraft. Both aircraft have demonstrated their ability to takeoff and land vertically by using the Company's Rotapower® rotary engine designed specifically for compact, high power-to-weight applications. Management believes that the Skycar® has the potential to provide an airborne alternative to a significant portion of the miles now traveled by automobiles while the Neuera is a utility and recreational vehicle capable of being legally operated without a pilot's license.
The Skycar® and Neuera have been featured on a number of TV programs including CBS 60 Minutes, "Highway In the Sky", NBC's Today Show "Today's American Story", History Channel's, "Greatest Movie Gadgets: Then and Now" and numerous times on the Discovery Channel.
Skycar® and Rotapower® are registered trademarks of Moller International in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historic information contained in this release, the statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause a company's actual results in the future to differ materially from forecasted results. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the company's ability to attract qualified management, raise sufficient capital to execute its business plan, and effectively compete against similar companies.