UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
UK’s first commercial-scale electric flight
ZeroAvia recently conducted what is claimed to be the first ever electric-powered flight of a commercial-scale aircraft in the UK, piloting the new version of its hydrogen fuel cell powertrain from its base at Cranfield Airport.
A hydrogen-electric powertrain offers the same zero-emission potential of a battery-electric option, but has a much more promising energy-to-weight ratio, making it viable for commercial operations at a much larger scale and in a shorter time frame, says ZeroAvia. Additionally, its hydrogen-electric powertrain is projected to have lower operating costs due to the high cost of battery cycling in typical high-utilisation regional aircraft.
Longer-distance hydrogen-electric powertrain test flights are planned for later this summer.
ZeroAvia’s innovation programme forms part of the UK government-backed Project HyFlyer. Funded through Innovate UK and the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)-led Aerospace R&T programme, Project HyFlyer aims to decarbonise medium-range small passenger aircraft by demonstrating innovative powertrain technology to replace conventional engines in propeller aircraft. The conventional powertrain in the aircraft will be replaced with electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells and gas storage.
Project HyFlyer will culminate in a UK-based 250–300 nautical mile (NM) flight from the Orkney Islands in Scotland. This project is a key step on ZeroAvia’s journey towards supplying to commercial operators and aircraft manufacturers in 2023, initially targeting up to 500-mile regional flights in 10 to 20-seat fixed-wing aircraft. ZeroAvia’s solution aims to deliver the same performance as a conventional aircraft engine, but with zero carbon emissions and at around half of the operating costs. The company says that aircraft over 200 seats with a range in excess of 3,000 nautical miles is achievable by 2040 without requiring any fundamental scientific breakthroughs.
Photo: ZeroAvia
