The Florida Department of Transportation is considering redirecting federal grant funds originally allocated for electric vehicle charging infrastructure toward the development of flying cars. The state currently holds $197 million in federal grants intended for the expansion of charging networks for electric cars and trucks.
The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandated the expansion of fast-charging networks for electric vehicles within a mile of interstate highways. Under this program, businesses such as Buc-ees and Wawa were eligible to receive funding covering approximately 80% of installation costs, with the remaining 20% provided by the businesses themselves.
Florida officials stated that the Department of Transportation does not intend to allocate taxpayer funds toward everyday passenger vehicle infrastructure. Instead, the state is exploring the creation of an Aerial Highway Network, which would include facilities for futuristic aircraft to charge, take off, and land.
Separately, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a prototype of the second-generation Roadster. During the presentation, the vehicle was demonstrated performing aerial maneuvers, including lifting off the ground and landing using air jets.
