Many businesses across the world are seeing the possibilities of decentralized electrically powered technologies to meet business demand for ecological and cost-effective regional air travel, in complement to in-city vertical take-off and landing operations. Hyundai has recently made it apparent that it is concerned about next-generation electric aviation, launching its own eVTOL company Supernal late last year and promising to use its vehicle manufacturing capability to mass-produce air taxis. Now, the company has announced that it is taking its hydrogen knowledge into the aviation realm with a demonstration at the Vertical Flight Society’s H2 Aero conference. Supernal has already shared information on its inner-city eVTOL, a battery-powered air taxi based on short, efficient cross-town city to suburban areas trips from vertipad to vertipad. And it will continue to operate on batteries.
For extended journeys, the business announced that it is developing a hydrogen-powered eSTOL (electric short takeoff and landing) plane capable of flying between 200 and 1,000 km (120 and 620 miles), or maybe even further. These will serve as clean substitutes for general aviation, taking off and landing at airports rather than flying roof to roof. “However, when these platforms hit the stores,” explains Premkumar, “the industry must be ready for commercialization.” That is why we have placed so much emphasis on infrastructure.”
Before actually trying an air assault that will burden the current infrastructure, the company considers it is imperative to develop the widespread application of rechargeable batteries and fuel cell electric propulsion systems across a diverse range of applications, to ensure that the electricity supply line is put in place and is credible, so to gain economies of scale. “We would like to harness our ground expertise, then connect aviation to ground, and then determine to see how can we improve on that and commercialized this entire ecosystem through the proper collaborative partnership, interacting with the right kind of people, and the best technology,” Premkumar explained. Most importantly, establishing the appropriate use applications and market dynamics for these solutions.”
Hyundai’s recent move demonstrates the company’s ambition to develop a fully integrated aerial mobility ecosystem rather than just one aircraft. The firm acknowledges that there will be a market demand for both short-range eVTOL services and long-range intercity operations, and it intends to serve all segments of the market.
