Hyundai, Rolls-Royce to bring all-electric propulsion, hydrogen fuel cell tech to air mobility

Hyundai Motor Group and Rolls-Royce are taking their goals to new heights — literally and figuratively — as the two announced their goal to bring all-electric propulsion and hydrogen fuel cell technology to the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market.

The Korean automaker said in a statement that the partnership will bank on Rolls-Royce’s aviation and certification capabilities and Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell technologies and industrialization capability.

The two firms are aiming to provide battery-electric and fuel cell electric solutions to the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Regional Air Mobility (RAM) markets that would push for sustainable aviation.

Earlier, Hyundai announced its AAM business roadmap, which involves UAM and RAM to offer eco-friendly air mobility solutions for people within and between cities.

The sealing of the partnership was done at Supernal’s booth at Farnborough Airshow. Gracing the event were Rolls-Royce Chief Executive Officer Warren East, Rolls-Royce Chief Technology and Strategy Officer Grazia Vittadini, Rolls-Royce Electrical President Rob Watson, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor Group AAM Division President Head Jaiwon Shin, and Hyundai Motor Group AAM Division Vice President Jaeyong Song.

The memorandum of understanding includes the following: 

• collaborate on the technology development and requirements of power and propulsion systems for Hyundai’s AAM Division
• work together on the industrialization of Rolls-Royce power and propulsion systems for the AAM market
• development of electric propulsion systems based upon hydrogen fuel cells as energy source for Hyundai’s RAM platforms
• team up in marketing a joint fuel-cell electric propulsion system to the wider AAM market 
• deliver a joint fuel-cell electric aircraft demonstration by 2025.

“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. 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,” Shin said.

“We believe this to be the key technology to support the global aviation industry’s goal to fly net zero carbon by 2050,” he added.

For his part, Watson expressed the company’s delight over the partnership that “provides a valuable opportunity to leverage and build on the capabilities each company brings from the aerospace and automotive sectors.”

“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. 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,” Watson noted.

Hyundai said that a hydrogen fuel cell would make an all-electric aircraft propulsion system silent, cover long-distance flights, and not emit smoke.

Photos from Hyundai

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