By the end of the decade, the first “air taxi” passengers may take to the skies in hydrogen fuel cell electric (FCEV) helicopters developed by Rolls-Royce and Hyundai Motor Group (HMG).
Following the signing of an MOU, the two companies will now set out to develop electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircrafts for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) markets of the future.
You might be thinking, helicopters or flying taxis are nothing new, however, developing and “cheaply” bringing to market aircrafts that only utilise zero emissions hydrogen and electrical propulsion, is.
Jaiwon Shin, President of Hyundai Motor Group, said: “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. We believe this to be the key technology to support the global aviation industry’s goal to fly net zero carbon by 2050.”
Besides this, both companies will also collaborate on the industrialisation of Rolls-Royce power and propulsion systems, as well as develop new electric propulsion systems based upon hydrogen fuel cells to power eVTOLs for Hyundai’s Regional Air Mobility (RAM) platforms.
The synergy aims to develop a joint fuel-cell electric aircraft prototype that is airborne by as early as 2025.
HMGs foray with Rolls-Royce into the AAM market is two-pronged, divided into the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and RAM markets.
Hyundai will move into the UAM market through its US-based subsidiary Supernal which has revealed its initial eVTOL vehicle cabin concept as seen here.
Supernal partnered with HMG’s design studios to create the lightweight interior cabin, which is made of forged carbon fiber and other advanced recyclable materials.
Ergonomically contoured seats offer a comfortable environment for passengers whilst deployable seat consoles mimic automobile center consoles and provide a charging station and stowage compartment for personal items.
Elsewhere, grab handles built into the cabin doors and seatbacks assist with ingress and egress. A combination of lighting – including overhead lights inspired by automobile sunroofs – adjusts with the various stages of flight to emulate a “light therapy” effect.
The 5-seater cabin layout draws on automotive space innovation with a minimized bulkhead, which allows for generous headroom and package functionalities.
Supernal’s battery-powered eVTOL aircrafts will designed for intra-city passenger (UAM) journeys starting (in the US) in 2028, whereas the HMG's (Korean based) RAM division is developing a hydrogen-powered mid-sized aircraft for city-to-city, and cargo and passenger journeys in the 2030s.
Keyword: Hyundai teams up with Rolls-Royce to build this FCEV air taxi, taking off by 2028