ZeroAvia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Valery Miftakhov |
| Headquarters | United States  |
Key people | CEO: Valery Miftakhov |
| Products | |
| Website | www |
ZeroAvia is a British/American hydrogen-electric aircraft developer. The company was founded in 2017 by Valery Miftakhov, who currently serves as the company CEO.[1] ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-fueled powertrain technology aiming to compete with conventional engines in propeller aircraft, with an aim of zero-emission and lower noise.[2] ZeroAvia expects to sell products by 2023 and demonstrate flights up to 500 miles (800 km) in aircraft of up to 20 seats.[3] According to the company, by 2026, ZeroAvia intends to fly an aircraft over 500 miles range in aircraft with up to 80 seats.[4]
Piper PA-46
In 2019, the company completed flight tests of the electrical aspects of the initial powertrain design, where it was later reported that an external hydrogen tank was fitted to a Piper Matrix.[5]
The company moved to a facility in Cranfield, England in 2020. Installation and test of the ZA250 hydrogen–electric powertrain in a six-seat Piper Malibu took place at Cranfield during 2020, culminating in an eight-minute first flight of the hydrogen-electric Malibu in September that year.[6] It was the company's first commercial-scale hydrogen-electric-powered flight.[7] In December 2020, the company was awarded £12.3 million, from the UK Government's ATI Programme, to develop a 19-seat hydrogen powered aircraft with a 350-mile (560 km) flight to be completed by 2023.[8]
In March 2021, ZeroAvia launched development for a 2 MW hydrogen-electric powertrain for full-size regional aircraft.[7] The following month, the company announced it would develop the HyFlyer II aircraft at Cotswold Airport.[9] On 29 April 2021, ZeroAvia's hydrogen-powered Piper PA-46-350P demonstrator testbed crashed in a field during a flight from Cranfield. No one was seriously hurt in the accident, but the aircraft received substantial damage, losing its left wing, after it was forced to land following a power system test.[10][11][12] Investigation revealed that when the battery was disconnected to test operation on the fuel cell alone, excessive voltage generated by the motor turned by the propeller caused a protective shutdown of the motor's inverter.[13][14]
Dornier 228
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ZeroAvia obtained two Dornier 228 aircraft for the next phase of its 19-seat HyFlyer program in June 2021.[7] In August 2021, ZeroAvia completed its first high-power run of the ZA-600, a hydrogen aircraft engine. Ground testing included a flight-intent 600 kW (800 hp) powertrain, which pulled a 15-ton HyperTruck mobile ground testing platform across the tarmac. The HyperTruck tests systems for 40-80 seat hydrogen-electric powered aircraft and is sized to ZeroAvia’s ZA-2000 2 MW (2,700 hp)+ powertrain. These propulsion system tests are for the HyFlyer II programme, which hopes to develop a hydrogen-electric, zero-emission propulsion system for airframes 10–20 seats in size. Later in 2021, the first HyFlyer II’s Dornier 228 aircraft test-flights were anticipated to take place at the Kemble facility.[7]
In 2022, the company announced a partnership with Otto Aviation to build a hydrogen-powered version of the Otto Celera 500L aircraft.[15] That same year, Textron Aviation and ZeroAvia partnered for the development of a hydrogen-electric powertrain for the Cessna Grand Caravan.[16]
On 19 January 2023, ZeroAvia flew its Dornier 228 testbed for 10 minutes with one TPE331 turboprop replaced by a prototype hydrogen-electric powertrain in the cabin, consisting of two fuel cells and a lithium-ion battery for peak power.[17] The aim is to have a certifiable configuration by 2025.[17]
The test campaign is planned for 10 to 20 flights.[16] The commercial platform is intended to be a 10- to 20-seat aircraft.[16]
DHC-8
In October 2021, ZeroAvia announced a collaboration with Alaska Airlines to develop the ZA-2000 hydrogen-electric powertrain, capable of producing between 2,000 kW and 5,000 kW, to power 76-seat regional aircraft with a range of at least 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi).[18]
In December 2021, ZeroAvia entered into a partnership with De Havilland Canada with a view to offering the ZA-2000 powertrain as an option for the DHC-8 airliner, as a line-fit option for new aircraft and as an approved retrofit for existing aircraft.[19]
In May 2023, ZeroAvia unveiled a DHC-8 Q400 donated by Alaska Airlines for use as a testbed aircraft.[20]