2025 may see the first SkyDrive electric helicopter flying over Japan.

SkyDrive hopes to use their electric helicopter as an air taxi service by the year 2025. The idea of an electric plane is alive and well. Many companies are hoping to introduce electric planes and helicopters that can autonomously or semi- autonomously transport passengers. SkyDrive is looking to do that with their prototype. SkyDrive, an Osaka, Japan-based company, plans to introduce a "sky taxi" service to Osaka Bay by 2025. The SkyDrive is designed for short city transport and only holds two passengers. At a maximum speed of 100 km/h, it uses a combination of 12 electric motors. 

The company said it would operate within Japanese aviation laws. The company wants it to be like the ground-based taxis most are familiar with. SkyDrive sees advantages not only in travel time but in decreased noise level in cities, increased open area on the ground due to less car traffic, and easier access to further distances for those living in the city. The company states that a driver/pilot is required to accompany an occupant to meet regulatory requirements. The company hopes to eventually introduce models that anyone could use without a license. Skydrive has entered the early stages of regulatory approval in Japan, but it will have a steep hill to climb. The future iteration of the SD-05 will be in development for a long time.

There are challenges regarding practicality, price/affordability for application, and infrastructure costs. These innovations could be here sooner than we think.