Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, right, poses with Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East after signing an MOU to bring all-electric propulsion and hydrogen cell technology to the advanced air mobility (AAM) market, at Supernal's booth at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, U.K., Monday. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Kim Hyun-bin

Hyundai Motor Group and Rolls-Royce are joining forces to bring all-electric propulsion and hydrogen cell technology to the advanced air mobility (AAM) market. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday and the partnership aims to bring together Rolls-Royce's aviation and certification capabilities and Hyundai Motor Group's hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

Both companies share the vision of leading the way in the AAM market, delivering batteries and fuel cells to the urban air mobility (UAM) and regional air mobility (RAM) markets and advancing sustainable aviation.

"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," said Shin Jai-won Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group.

The MOU includes five strategic aims: collaboration on the technology development and requirements of power and propulsion systems for Hyundai's AAM division, industrialization of Rolls-Royce's power and propulsion systems for the AAM market, development of electric propulsion systems based on hydrogen fuel cells as an energy source for Hyundai's RAM platforms, bringing a joint fuel-cell electric propulsion system to the wider AAM market and demonstrating a joint fuel-cell electric aircraft by 2025.

The signing ceremony took place at Supernal's booth at the Farnborough Airshow and was attended by Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer Grazia Vittadini and Rolls-Royce Electrical President Rob Watson, as well as Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, Hyundai Motor AAM Division President Shin Jai-won and Hyundai Motor AAM Division Vice President Song Jae-yong.

"We are delighted to partner with Hyundai Motor Group, which 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," Watson said.

The benefit of using a hydrogen fuel cell system in an all-electric aircraft propulsion system is that it is a zero-emission, silent and reliable onboard power source that enables scalability in power offerings, as well as a long-distance flight range.

Hyundai will work with Rolls-Royce to bring hydrogen fuel cells, storage systems and infrastructure to aerospace markets, and apply these technologies to Hyundai's RAM vehicles.