Flying taxi companies are racing to carry passengers as soon as this year. I've seen all 3 rivals — this is how they compare

• Joby, Archer, and Beta are racing to make flying cars a reality, each with unique aircraft designs.
• They envision eVTOLs one day regularly carrying people to airports or to work.
• Flying taxis face hurdles like certification, infrastructure, and public acceptance.

Three US aerospace startups are in a high-stakes race to bring the "Jetsons'" dream of flying cars to life — and each has a different vision of what that future looks like.

Aerospace companies Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Beta Technologies have spent the past few years showcasing their flying taxi prototypes at industry events around the world. They're pitching them as an environmentally cleaner, cheaper alternative to helicopters.

I've seen all three — either on static display or in flight. I've gotten a glimpse of how these vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, could be used on a regular commute or skip traffic to the airport.

The wide-winged, trunky aircraft are quieter than fuel-powered planes and helicopters, and they fly surprisingly smoothly. How would they work? Imagine a web of low-altitude air taxi corridors connecting airports, neighboring towns, conferences, and events like the Olympics.

Still, none have been certified by aviation authorities, so they'll not be regularly carrying passengers just yet. Joby and Archer aim to launch commercial service as soon as this year; Beta's timeline is several years out. They're all actively participating in a US Department of Transportation program that would aim to integrate electric air taxis into the national airspace system as quickly as possible.

And each is demonstrating a markedly different approach, with distinct aircraft designs, certification strategies, and business models. Each is publicly traded in the US: Joby had a recent market capitalization of around $9 billion; Archer and Beta are each around $4 billion.

The companies are facing tough sledding so far this year: Their stocks are down between 30% and 40% since January. Wall Street analysts have said investors are shifting their focus away from technological milestones toward proof of certification and commercialization. In other words, they want these things to get off the ground.

Air taxis indeed still face myriad hurdles, including securing those regulatory approvals, raising capital, building out infrastructure, and convincing the public to embrace a new type of aircraft. Affordable fares and vast infrastructure changes are likely to be needed to achieve even a modest future of traveling around a city for errands or work.

Here's a closer look at how Joby, Archer, and Beta's futuristic flying taxis compare — and what potential commuters might expect if these aircraft reach commercial service.

Joby's "S4" and Archer's "Midnight" eVTOLs share a similar design approach, with six tilting rotors mounted above the aircraft that transition to support both vertical and forward flight. Midnight also has six additional fixed lift propellers used only during takeoff and landing.

Beta's "Alia 250" uses four fixed vertical-lift propellers and a rear pusher propeller for forward flight. None tilt. Clark says the design is simpler with fewer moving parts.

In general, each eVTOL is powered by rechargeable batteries that supply energy to multiple electric motors, with redundancy built in so the aircraft can continue flying safely even if a component fails.

Beta's Alia 250 has the longest range at about 250 miles per charge and can reach 176 mph. Joby's aircraft can fly up to about 200 mph over roughly 150 miles, while Archer's Midnight reaches speeds of around 150 mph with a range of about 100 miles.

I recently saw Joby demonstrate a passenger shuttle flight from New York's JFK to downtown Manhattan. The 10-minute trip was barely audible as it cruised up the Hudson River, only becoming louder on approach to the vertiport.

I also saw Beta's eVTOL fly over Burlington, Vermont, during a media day in June, showcasing its quiet profile, stability, and vertical flight performance.

Separately, Business Insider's Lloyd Lee observed Archer and Joby flights over California in October, describing both as little more than a faint hum overhead.

In theory, more seats help spread operating costs and could translate into lower fares. The startups have said their eVTOLs cost just a few dollars per passenger mile, with Joby and Archer saying their fares would be roughly in line with Uber Black car service.

But the economics remain uncertain, with pilot costs, maintenance, and other operational expenses also factoring into future fares. Even if eVTOL fares are cheaper than helicopter fares, that doesn't mean they'll be affordable for the average traveler or convenient for their needs.

The startups aim to begin commercial air taxi flights by the end of the year, though any certification hiccups or delays could push that to 2027.

Beta president and CEO Kyle Clark said the Alia 250 is looking at a few more years. Its slower timeline reflects the company's stepwise certification approach based on its cTOL, the Alia CX300.

In 2021, United Airlines placed a $1 billion order for up to 200 Midnight aircraft. Joby made a $60 million deal with Delta Air Lines in 2022 to operate codeshare airport transfers to the airline's hubs.

UPS has placed an order for up to 150 of Beta's eVTOLs. Beta also secured orders from Air New Zealand for its cTOL.

Beta and the airline already demonstrated the Alia CX300's real-world application, with test pilots flying cargo to a dozen airports across the islands, covering about 7,000 miles.

Eventually, the US startups hope to create autonomous versions that can fly without a pilot — essentially the Waymo of the skies.

It's an ambitious long-term goal that raises questions regulators would need to address before approval, including safety, certification, cybersecurity, and public perception. Labor unions are also likely to strongly oppose efforts to allow pilotless passenger aircraft into the national airspace.

Still, China proved it can be possible. In late 2023, the nation certified a fully autonomous two-seater eVTOL from the Guangzhou-based UAM company EHang, which is now being used for sightseeing tours.