Rolls-Royce and Hyundai team up on flying cars

Rolls-Royce and the Hyundai Motor Group have announced a new collaboration to bring battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell technology to the fledgling Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) or electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle market.

The two industry powerhouses will leverage each other’s respective expertise in aviation and hydrogen fuel-cell technologies before blending Rolls-Royce’s certification capabilities with Hyundai’s industrialisation resources.

The memorandum of understanding comprising five strategic aims was signed by executives from both parties yesterday at the UK’s Farnborough Airshow, with the five aims comprising:

“Collaborating on the technology development and requirements of power and propulsion systems for Hyundai’s Advanced Air Mobility Division.

“Collaborating on the industrialisation of Rolls-Royce power and propulsion systems for the Advanced Air Mobility market.

“Development of electric propulsion systems based upon hydrogen fuel cells as an energy source for Hyundai’s RAM platforms.

“Collaborating to bring to market a joint fuel-cell electric propulsion system to the wider AAM market.

“Delivering a joint fuel-cell electric aircraft demonstration by 2025.”

Hyundai also used the annual event to showcase its Supernal eVTOL vehicle cabin concept; a preliminary example of how the Korean conglomerate is implementing its automotive know-how within the AAM.

Inspired by the body of a butterfly, the five-seater aircraft cabin features a three-row, ‘one-two-two’ seating layout and deployable consoles inspired by a car’s traditional centre console and storage solutions.

The structure itself is crafted from ‘forged’ carbon-fibre while the interior is awash with sustainable materials like advanced recyclable carbonfibre-reinforced thermoplastic, durable plant-based ‘leather’, recycled plastic fabric and responsibly sourced woods.

Designed and intended for “intra-city passenger journeys”, the production Supernal eVTOL is earmarked to go into service in the US as of 2028 and will eventually be complemented in the 2030s by a “hydrogen-powered mid-sized vehicle for regional – city-to-city – cargo and passenger journeys”.

“In order for Advanced Air Mobility to become a wide-spread mode of transportation, every detail – from the passenger experience to regulations and infrastructure – needs to be addressed from the start and work in lockstep with one another,” said Hyundai Motor Group and Supernal CEO Jaiwon Shin.

The new collaboration with Rolls-Royce will aid in projects like these and future ones, something Shin was particularly enthusiastic about.

“We are pleased to partner with Rolls-Royce to draw upon their aviation and certification expertise to accelerate the development of hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion systems,” he said.

“Hyundai has successfully delivered hydrogen fuel cell systems to the global automotive market and is now exploring the feasibility of electric and hydrogen propulsion technologies for aerospace integration.”

Rolls-Royce Electrical president reciprocated the enthusiasm, declaring that Rolls-Royce was “delighted” with the new partnership.

“The Advanced Air Mobility Market offers great commercial potential, and this collaboration supports our joint ambitions to lead the way in the Advanced Air Mobility Market,” he said.

“It is also another demonstration of Rolls-Royce’s role in delivering the solutions that will enable passengers to travel sustainably and help deliver net zero carbon by 2050.”

In addition to Hyundai and Rolls-Royce, a wide range of car-makers and tech companies are now developing eVTOL vehicles for both inner-city and inter-city personal transport, including Renault, Toyota, Geely, Mercedes-Benz, Uber, Airbus and Google.

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