Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced today a signed teaming agreement with Electric Power Systems (EPS), for the development of energy storage systems for Bell's vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and on-demand mobility (ODM) solutions.
"This collaboration with EPS is intended to further enhance the safety and performance of our aircraft through unique power storage capabilities," said Bell's Scott Drennan, vice president of Innovation. "As we forge relationships with new teammates, we move one step closer to bringing viable urban air mobility to the everyday commuter."
EPS develops high-performance, low-cost energy storage systems such as batteries, power electronics, thermal management systems and battery management systems for high-reliability applications. These energy storage systems will be designed to provide the energy resource for the hybrid propulsion system.
"This relationship aligns with our vision as well as Bell's vision to advance electric aircraft for commercial and military aviation applications," said Nathan Millecam, CEO of EPS. "Our Energy Storage System leverages advanced active battery management technology that enables our battery module to improve life, reduce cost, and meet stringent FAA safety requirements around cell containment in thermal runaway at a very light weight."
Bell continues to build the ODM network and is responsible for the design, development and production of the Air Taxi, while EPS will lead the design, development, testing, production and support of the energy storage systems. As previously announced, Safran will provide the hybrid propulsion systems, Garmin will integrate the autonomous vehicle management computer (VMC) systems, and Thales will lead the flight controls system avionics.
Contact details from our directory: | |
Bell Helicopter Textron | Airframer |
Electric Power Systems (EPS) | Thermal Batteries, Lithium-ion Batteries, Storage Batteries |
Safran Helicopter Engines | Turboshaft Engines, Auxiliary Power Units, Turbine Engine Blades, Additive Manufacturing, Electric Motors |
Garmin International | GPS, Transceivers, Radar Transponders, Position Indicators, Radio Communications Equipment, Instrument Landing Systems, Moving Maps, Flight Directors, Electronic Flight Instrument Systems, Flight Management Systems, Avionics Management Systems, Autopilots, Weather Mapping Radar, VOR (Omnirange) Receivers, Onboard Intercom Systems, Collision Avoidance Systems/TCAS, Radar/Radio Altimeters, Attitude and Heading Reference Systems, Magnetometers, Onboard Computers, Air Data Computers, Satellite Receivers, Automatic Flight Control Systems, Onboard Airport Navigation Systems, Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems, Head-Up Displays, Airborne Communication Systems, Engine Indicator Instruments, Storm-Warning Radar, Autothrottle Systems |
Thales Avionics (Canada) | Attitude Indicators, Electronic Flight Instrument Systems, Autopilots, Collision Avoidance Systems/TCAS, Head-Up Displays, Cockpit Control Systems, Automatic Flight Control Systems, Helmet-Mounted Displays (HMD), Proximity Warning Indicators, Onboard Computers, LCD Displays, Avionics Management Systems, Radar/Radio Altimeters, Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems, LED Displays, Multi-Mode Receivers (MMR), Health & Usage Monitoring |
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Batteries & Accessories |
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