The two companies announced under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), they would collaborate on developing technology and requirements as well as industrialising existing technologies to deliver a joint fuel-cell electric propulsion system to the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market.

H2 View understands that Hyundai will work with Rolls-Royce to bring hydrogen fuel cells, storage systems, and infrastructure to the aerospace markets, and advance the technology into both Hyundai’s RAM vehicles and Rolls-Royce’s all-electric and hybrid propulsion systems.

Under the agreement, the companies hope to leverage on Rolls-Royce’s aviation and certification capabilities and Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell technologies, with plans to delivery hydrogen-powered and all-electric solutions to the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Regional Air Mobility (RAM) markets.

Rob Watson, President of Rolls-Royce Electrical, said, “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.”

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Rolls-Royce and Hyundai Motor Group includes five strategic aims:

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.

Jaiwon Shin, President of Hyundai Motor Group, “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.”