Israel Expects Sky Cars by The End of 2015

A futuristic elevated transportation system is set to appear on Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) campus in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The first sky car system of its kind will feature a 550 yard elevated sky car prototype loop, according to skyTran, the company based at the NASA research park in California and tasked for building the advanced prototype within the city of Tel Aviv.

The sky cars will have room for two, and will be suspended from an elevated track using Magnetic Levitation Technology. SkyTran hopes that the system will help to drastically reduce traffic congestion in Tel Aviv. The vehicles can reach a max speed of 43 miles per hour, although the company said the commercially available car should be able to reach a “much higher” top speed.

The system is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2015.

SkyTran is hopeful the future success of the test track brings about greater interest for future sky car projects.

Israel Aerospace Industries’ Chief executive said the agreement to build the track at IAI is a huge “breakthrough” for the future of sky cars.

Tickets for the sky car system for the greater Tel Aviv system will cost about $5 dollars per person, which will be readily available to book via smartphone.

The California-based company’s mission for the project is to “transport passengers in a safe, green, and economical manner.” They intend to “revolutionize public transportation and, with it, urban and suburban commuting.”

An expert familiar with the system told the BBC it represented “a hybrid between existing infrastructure and autonomous vehicles.” He continued, “It will get the market in the mood for autonomous vehicles – it is not too scary, is cheaper than building out a train line and uses part of the urban landscape, 20 feet above ground, that isn’t currently used.”