Flying in an Uber will cost about as much as an Uber X in a couple of years.
That’s according to a NASA vet-turned Uber executive, who told Cheddar that the airborne vehicle’s effectiveness would drive down its cost.
“These aircrafts are six times more productive, six times faster than a car stuck in traffic on the ground,” Uber Engineering Director of Aviation Mark Moore said Tuesday. “Each one of these vehicles can carry three to four people.”
The company was joined by Bell Helicopter at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas to offer a sneak peek of what the electric taxis will look like. This is a part of its Uber Elevate program, which was unveiled last year.
To push the initiative, Uber recently inked a deal with NASA to coordinate air grids. The technology will launch between 2023 and 2025 and will operate in Dubai, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/uber-elevate-could-take-to-the-skies-by-2020).
Parallel Systems has been selected to receive $4.5 million from the Department of Energy for an advanced testing program of its autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles. The startup, which has raised more than $53 million to date, was founded by former SpaceX engineers to reimagine the rail system by creating a more efficient, decarbonized freight network. Matt Soule, Co-founder & CEO of Parallel Systems, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss what the company hopes to achieve.
A bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) aims to tackle the spread of misinformation on social media platforms, as well as the addictive nature of the sites and negative mental health impacts they have on users. The 'Nudge Act' would require studies to find and compile potential interventions that platforms could use to encourage people to think before they share a post, or log off after spending too much time on an app. The FTC would create rules based on these findings, and hold the platforms accountable. But will it work? Jesse Lehrich, co-founder of Accountable Tech, joins Closing Bell to discuss the bill, whether real results and regulations could come from it, and more.