Hyundai’s S-A2 eVTOL concept is as quiet as a dishwasher

Hyundai’s S-A2 eVTOL concept had a grand unveiling at CES. (Source: Supernal)

Supernal, Hyundai’s electric aircraft division, unveiled its second-generation eVTOL prototype at CES 2024. The S-A2 will cruise at 120 mph while emitting less than 50 decibels, and reach heights of 1500 feet with only 65 dB of noise.

Barely four years ago Hyundai was in partnership with Uber to kick-start an aerial ride-sharing service. But like the rest of the air taxi industry, the collaboration reached a stalemate, causing Hyundai to scrap the S-A1. 

Fast-forward to CES 2024 and Supernal, Hyundai’s air mobility division, has just unveiled a new iteration of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) concept. The latest aircraft prototype is unashamedly christened the S-A2 and features improvements in design and aerospace dynamics. However, it will not be ready for production until 2028.

Compared to its first attempt in 2020, Supernal has improved its overall design of eVTOL aircraft. (Source: Supernal)

The S-A2 is a five-seater aircraft with a snub-nosed cabin similar to the S-A1, or in fact most other eVTOL prototypes. Eight tilting rotors are mounted on the pods on the wings: four in front for pulling the plane up, and four at the back to provide pushing force. Supernal is marketing this approach as “kinetic purism”, but as the S-A2 prototype isn’t functional (yet?), it remains to be seen how well this works in practice.

According to Jaiwon Shin, CEO of Supernal, the aircraft should be able to run “as quietly as a dishwasher”. That means a maximum disturbance of 65 dB during takeoff and landing, which should get even quieter – max 45dB – when cruising horizontally at its top speed of 120mph. In contrast, helicopter take-off today is at least forty decibels louder. 

Due to battery limitations, Supernal’s aircraft only reaches a maximum altitude of 1500 feet and cannot travel beyond a range of 45 miles. These constraints put it behind rival eVTOL companies such as Archer or Wisk, which are determined to commence production in 2025, three years ahead of Supernal.

Like the now-defunct S-A1, Supernal is looking towards commercial applications (Source: Supernal)

Unlike EVs, where smaller companies can bring a new vehicle from concept to production within a couple of years, eVTOL aircraft take much longer to acquire regulatory approval.. Hyundai’s automaking prowess may grant Supernal a manufacturing advantage, but that doesn’t mean the S-A2 will have it any easier with the FAA. 

The FAA requires type and production certification before a company is permitted to mass-produce any aircraft, and further certification to license commercial flight. In view of this, perhaps Supernal’s 2028 estimate makes more sense than the more optimistic production dates of its competitors.

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I was fortunate to be exposed to the awesomeness of tech as a child. I delighted in seeking out the nerdiest sci-fi gadgets I could afford to play with. These days I take a professional interest in biotech, especially health-tracking wearables, and futuristic smart home appliances. If you ever come to Unilag’s College of Medicine, you’ll probably find me geeking about some biomedical discovery. That’s if I’m not scrolling YouTube shorts. Or sleeping.

Sarfo Ashong-Listowell, 2024-01-16 (Update: 2024-01-16)

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