When will there be a flying car in your garage? Not anytime soon.

Tesla’s recent “flying” Roadster demo has reignited talk of personal flying cars, but the realistic near-term answer is different from what most people picture. The vehicles getting serious investment are electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs. They generally can’t use roads, may not even have wheels, and typically cover limited distances—often about 100 miles per trip. Companies are also selling eVTOL aircraft already. Some start-ups, including California’s Alef, aim for hybrids that look like cars and fly, but major engineering trade-offs make that dual role difficult. Regulators are pushing eVTOL development through the FAA.