Global automotive powerhouse DENSO recently announced a partnership with Fortune 100 aerospace manufacturer Honeywell for the development of hybrid-electric and fully-electric propulsion systems. The primary application for these systems would be urban air mobility, or aircraft utilized within the city to lighten the load on ground traffic.
The companies feel that combining their automotive and aerospace expertise should allow for the creation of a propulsion system that helps make air travel cleaner, quieter, more efficient and easier to maintain. Urban air mobility is intended to enhance the movement of people and things within cities using advancements in lightweight materials and more energy-efficient generators and motors. The end result should also help make electric-powered flight more mainstream.
Southfield, Michigan-based DENSO is a $48.3 billion global mobility supplier that offers technology and components for nearly every vehicle on the road today. The company operates 221 facilities in 35 countries and features a workforce that includes more than 17,000 engineers, researchers and skilled workers in the U.S.
For their part, Honeywell Aerospace provides products and services used on nearly every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more.