Bell and Safran have agreed to work together to develop hybrid-electric power systems for Bell’s eVTOL aircraft concept, the two companies announced on Tuesday. Bell will lead the design, development and production of VTOL systems, and Safran will work on “a disruptive propulsion system,” according to the companies’ news release. “This announcement is another proof point of our commitment to providing transportation of people and logistics in new, innovative and more efficient ways,” said Scott Brennan, Bell’s director of innovation, at a transit conference in Cologne. “Our work with Safran is a historical milestone for future transport solutions.”
Bell showed a mock-up of its four-seat eVTOL air-taxi cabin concept recently at the Uber conference and also at Heli-Expo. Bell officials have said they expect to start flight trials of their eVTOL by about 2020. Safran said its innovation teams have been working on hybrid solutions for future propulsion systems for several years.
