The Feasibility of Electric Air Taxis: Balancing Time Savings and CO$_2$ Emissions -- A joint case study of respective plans in Paris

Abstract

This paper evaluates the sustainability of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in urban and regional mobility, using Paris as a case study. Paris is committed to eco-friendly transportation and has introduced AAM, including electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) air taxis for the 2024 Olympic Games. We assess eVTOL energy consumption and CO$_2$ emissions on urban and regional routes, comparing them with cars, public transport, and helicopters. Urban eVTOLs save around 23 minutes over cars and 22 minutes over public transport on 50 km routes. For regional routes (300 km), eVTOLs save 76 minutes over cars and 69 minutes over trains. However, eVTOLs' eco-friendliness depends on context. In urban areas, they consume more energy than electric cars, but beat traditional helicopters by 47%. For regional travel, eVTOLs outperform helicopters and some cars but lag behind electric vehicles and trains. To maximize AAM's sustainability in Paris, stakeholders must consider real-world operations and integrate eVTOLs into the broader transportation system. This approach can lead to greener urban and regional transportation.