Electric Flying Vehicles Lose Power; Rolls-Royce Pulls Plug

Rolls-Royce is backing out of the electric flight business to focus back on its core jet propulsion business.

The company has spent years working on advanced electric propulsion systems for electric aerial vehicles (EAV).

That electrical division is now being put up for sale.

“We are also clear where we will not invest and re-allocate capital to parts of the business where we can generate more value,” said Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic.

“We will only sell assets at the right time and at the right price. For example, in Rolls-Royce Electrical we are looking at options to exit in the short run or alternatively for the right value, reduce our position to a minority with an intention to exit fully in the mid-term. 

“We believe, given the world-class capability we have built in Advanced Air Mobility, that this will represent good value to a third party and will allow us to focus on our core electrical engineering activities in Power Systems, Defense and Civil Aerospace.”

U.K. eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle) maker Vertical had been working with Rolls-Royce as its power supplier.

Besides Rolls-Royce, Vertical’s partners include Honeywell, which designs the aircraft control system. 

Rolls-Royce also was an investor in Vertical, so that future is still in question.

Related:Vertical Aerospace Flies Full-Scale Electric Aircraft

The next year is likely to be a shakeout year for the EAV industry, as 2025 launch dates draw near and funding resources are stretched as innovation and costs ramp up ahead of revenue.

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