Denso, Honeywell go airborne with plans for electric flying vehicles

Denso Corp. declared a year ago that it would look beyond its traditional businesses for new ideas. Last week, the Japanese supplier made good on the declaration by announcing it will partner with U.S. aerospace manufacturer Honeywell to develop electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for urban air mobility vehicles. Denso envisions the vehicles as lightweight, vertical-lift transports capable of carrying four or five people from point to point — more or less an air taxi. News Editor Lindsay Chappell spoke with Bill Foy, 54, Denso senior vice president of engineering. Here are edited excerpts.