Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the launch of eVTOL [electric vertical takeoff and landing] through Central Florida's aerospace region while speaking at a press conference at the SunTrax Advanced Air Mobility and Autonomous & Connected Transportation Testing Grounds in Auburndale this week.
"That means these things are going to be lifting off. They don't need a runway. They're going to lift off, and they're going to fly, and they're going to land, and they're going to be able to bring people to different places," DeSantis said pointing to the eVTOL aircrafts.Â
SunTrax is a 775-acre testing facility located in Polk County for ground and airport technologies, including tolling systems and autonomous air vehicles. The facility, which broke ground in 2017 and officially opened in 2023, is owned and operated by the Florida Department of Transportation.
"This gives companies a controlled environment to test aircraft and communications technology under real-world conditions right here in the heart of the free state of Florida," DeSantis said.Â
In addition, Gov. DeSantis emphasized eVTOL's quietness for its use. Modern eVTOL's were first initiated by NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] in 2009 with protoypes flying over the next decade.
"These happen to be electric powered, which is very quiet, and so you can take these and drop them into like a major city without having a disruption like you would with a helicopter because a helicopter [is] very loud, going very fast," DeSantis said. "You just have a lot of issues, so that's what these things are capable of doing."
Gov. DeSantis also noted development of hybrid eVTOL's for more efficiency.
"The reality is the batteries can only take you so far. If you have fuel in there too, then the range goes very much and becomes a big deal," DeSantis added.Â
DeSantis emphasized the technology could potentially help alleviate traffic in the future, including on Florida's busy I-4 corridor from Tampa to Daytona Beach. I-4 covers 132 miles.
"It could be like an Uber taxi in the air," DeSantis said. "You could also use it for cargo, for medical, even for emergency response missions. So I'm happy to embrace emerging technology."
DeSantis also announced testing of autonomous and connected vehicles at SunTrax.
"If you go in there, you just sit. You have a screen; it'll take you. There's no steering wheel, no pedal, no anything like that. Clearly, these things could potentially be very beneficial," DeSantis said pointing to a Jaguar Waymo and Tesla Cybercab.Â
DeSantis added the cars will be tested for safety, including on various road conditions. Waymo cars notably already operate in Miami and Orlando.
"We're the only high-speed autonomous vehicle test track in the United States, and obviously these vehicles will be tested at interstate speeds," DeSantis said. "And if they don't pass it, then they're not going to be roadworthy, so we can simulate dry and rainy conditions, crowded urban environments, pedestrian crossings, hills and dips, and other conditions that autonomous systems will encounter when they are operating in our community."
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue and Polk County College Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas joined DeSantis for the announcement.
