Who says eVTOLs are only good as flying taxis?

Lyte Aviation has much more ambitious plans for the next generation of electric aircraft. The UK firm's LA-44 SkyBus looks like other vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, with multiple tilting propellers and wings, but on steroids.

The SkyBus will be able to carry 40 passengers, with a nearly 5-ton payload capacity. With the first prototype expected in 2025, the SkyBus has a projected range of 625 miles, with a maximum speed of 185 mph. Lyte CEO Freshta Farzam says it will be five times more efficient than existing helicopter designs, with ten times less carbon output.

Unlike much smaller battery-only eVTOL competitors, the SkyBus will have hybrid propulsion: The first will be electric, and powered by hydrogen fuel cells, while the second is comprised of four turbine engines running on jet fuel.

"Conventional, reliable engines will likely remain unavoidable for the foreseeable future," said Farzam. "They're the best option for our aircraft program for the time being, with the aim to operate and refuel practically anywhere with the current infrastructure."

This supersized eVTOL, though larger than a conventional air taxi, has a similar goal of disrupting conventional transportation hubs—in this case, buses, trains and even regional aircraft. Lyte said it had partnered with the Netherlands' Twente Airport to develop regional routes to cut commute times between cities like Paris, Munich and London.

As the eVTOL world moves closer to reality, Lyte recently announced a partnership with Volatus Infrastructure and Energy Solution to explore the SkyBus' requirements for charging, refueling and vertiport systems. The aircraft, with its 56-foot wingspan, would be able to land on a site that is about 130 x 130 feet.